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COLLECTIONS 



NEW JERSEY 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



VOLUME VIII. 



NEWARK, N. J. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 

1900. 



F I 3 \ 



OFFICERS 

OK THE 

NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

1895. 



President — Samuel H. Pennington, M. D., LL.D., of Newark. 

Vice Presidents — General William S. Stryker, Trenton ; Rev. George 

S. Mott, D. D., Flemington; Jonathan W. Roberts, Morris Plains. 
Corresponding Secretary— William Nelson, Paterson. 
Recording Secretary — Ernest E. Coe, Newark. 
Treasurer and Librarian — Frederick W. Ricord, Newark. 
Executive Committee — David A. Depue, LL.D., Newark ; John I. 

Blair, Blairstown; Nathaniel Niles, Madison; Garret D. W. Vroom, 

Trenton; Robert F. Ballantine, Newark; William Clark, Newark; 

James Neilson, New Brunswick; Franklin Murphy, Newark; Charles 

Bradley, Newark. 

OFFICERS, 1900. 

President— General William S. Stryker, LL.D., Trenton. 

Vice Presidents— Austin Scott, Ph.D., LL.D., New Brunswick; Robert 

F. Ballantine, Newark; William H. Corbin, Elizabeth. 
Corresponding Secretary — William Nelson, A. M., Paterson. 
Recording Secretary and Librarian— Miss Henrietta R. Palmer, 

Newark. 

Treasurer— Francis M. Tichenor, Newark. 

Board of Trustees— Charles Bradley, Newark; Frederic A. Canfield, 
Dover; Aaron Carter, Newark; Ernest E. Coe, Newark; J. Acker- 
man Coles, M. D., Scotch Plains; Amzi Dodd, Newark; Frank P. 
Hill, Newark; John R. Hardin, Newark; Frederick Wolcott Jack- 
son, Newark; William M. Johnson, Hackensack; Cyrus Peck, New- 
ark; Stephen H. Plum, Newark; Jonathan W. Roberts, Morris 
Plains; Wallace M. Scudder, Newark; Garret D. W. Vroom, Tren- 
ton. 



Press Printing and Publishing Co., 
Paterson, New Jersey. 

Gift 
The Society 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



CELEBRATION OF THE FOUNDING 



OF- 



The New Jersey Historical Society, 



NEWARK, N. J., 



May 16, 1895. 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Preliminary : 

Preparations for the Celebration, 3. — Fac simile of the card of 
invitation, 4. — Some responses, 5. — List of acceutances, 6. — 
Regrets, 8. — Wherein New Jersey has been first, 10. — The 
Programme of exercises, 11. — List of former Officers of the 
Society, . . . 13 

Fifty Years of Historical Work in New Jeesey. Address by 

William Nelson, A. M., , 15 

Part I. — How the Way was Prepared. 

First Works on New Jersey History, 18. — Foreign historians, 
19. — The Swedish Settlements in New Jersey, 20. — Gordon's 
History and Gazetteer, 21. — Bancroft's thrilling eloquence, 22. 
— Nicholas Murray — William A. Whitehead, 28. — Fenwick's 
Colony, 24. — A Fascinating Puzzle, 21.— Barber and Howe's 
Historical Collections, 25. — Trenton.— Old Gloucester, 26. — 
The First Dutch Settlers of New Jersey, 27. — Failures Culmin- 
ating in a Larger Success, 29. 
Part II. — Organization of the New Jersey Historical Society. 
Efforts to induce the Legislature to procure from foreign offices 
documents relating to New Jersey, 29-30. — First meeting to or- 
ganize the Society, 30. — Names of those present, 31. — Bio- 
graphical sketches of the Presidents of the Society, 1845-1895: 
Chief Justice Joseph Coerten Hornblower, 32; James Parker, 
33; Richard Stockton Field, 34; John Rutherfurd, 35; Rev. 
Ravaud Kearny Rodgers, 36; Chancellor Henry W. Green, 37; 
Rev. Samuel M Hainill, D. D., 39; John Clement, 40; Sam- 
uel H. Pennington, M. D., LL. D., 42. —Some Vice Presidents 
of the Society : Richard Gibbon Johnson, 44; Gov. Peter D. 
Vroom, 45; Stacy Gardiner Potts, 46; James Gore King, 46; 
William Alexander Duer, 46; William Lewis Dayton, 47; Wil- 
liam Burnet Kinney, 48; Peter S. Duryee, 49; John T. Nixon, 
50. — The Corresponding Secretaries: William Adee Whitehead, 
51; Stephen Wickes, M. D., 55. — Deceased Recording Secreta- 
ries: Joseph P. Bradley, 57; Dr. John S. Condit, 59; David Ab- 
bott Hayes, 61. — The Treasurers and Librarians: Thomas J. 
Stryker, 62; James Ross, 63; Solomon Alofsen, 63; Col. Rob- 
ert Smith Swords, 64 ; Thomas Gordon, 65 ; Samuel H. Congar, 
66; Martin R, Dennis, 67; Frederick William Ricord, 68.— 
Some members of the Executive Committee : Rev. Daniel Veach 



1 CONTENTS. 

McLean, D. D., 69; Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D., 70; Archer 
Gifford, 71; Rev. Eli Field Cooley, 72; Abraham Bruyn Has- 
brouck, 72; Rt. Eev. George Washington Doane, D. D., LL. 
D., 73; Elias Btiley Dayton Ogdeu, 73; Eev. John Maclean, 
D. D., 74; Littleton Kirkpatrick, 74; Gov. Daniel Haines, 75. 

Part III. — The Society's Library and Publications. 

The gathering of the Library, 79. — Some of its treasures, 81. — 
Contests over the Location of the Library, 82-85.— The Libra- 
ry is finally located in Upper Library Hall, in Newark, in 1849, 
85.— Regulation of the Library, 87-88.— Supported by private 
subscriptions, 89.— The Library removed in 186U to its present 
quarters, 86. — Temporary Librarians employed, 89-92. — A per- 
manent Librarian appointed, in 1881, 92. — Statistics of the 
Library's growth, 94 — Efforts to secure a permanent home for 
the society, in 1852, 95. — A site purchased, in 1854, 96. — Sub- 
scribers therefor, 97. — Resolutions to build, adopted in 1859, 
1867, 1871, 1887, 1889, 97-98.— Movement to secure the New- 
ark Library Association's building, 98-100. 

Part IV. — The Society's Publications. 

The ''Proceedings" of the Society, character and terms of pub- 
lication, 101.— The "Collections:" I. East Jersey under the Pro- 
prietary Governments, 105; II. Life of William Alexander, Earl 
of Stirling. 105; III. Provincial Courts of New Jersey, 106; IV. 
Papers of Gov. Lewis Morris, 106; V. Analytical Index to Docu- 
ments relating to New Jersey, 112-117; VI. Records of the 
Town of Newark, 107 ; Newark Bi-Centennial, 1C9 ; VII. History 
of New Jersey under the Constitution of 1776, 109. — The New 
Jersey Archives, 117-122. —The Committee on Colonial Docu- 
ments, 123. 

Part V. — Other Work of the Society. 

Local Historical Societies, 124. — Extended Census Statistics, 126. 
—The Centennial Celebration of 1889, 126.— The Centennial 
Medal, 129. — Importance of Permanent Funds for carrying on 
the Society's Work, 133. 

Notes. — Manuscript Collections, 135. — Donations of special inter- 
est, 136. —Portraits, 137. — Abstract cf the Society's title to the 
West Park street lot, Newark, 138. — List of the Society's invited 
guests, in the Naval Parade, April 29, 1889, 144. — Details as to 
the Centennial Medal, size, weight, cost, contributors to, and 
subscribers for, 150-152. 

Bibliography or the Society. I. Constitution and by-laws, 153. 
II. Proceedings, 153. III. Collections, 159. IV. New Jersey 
Archives, 160. V. Separate addresses, 162-167. 



Page 



CONTENTS. \ii 

Paf<e 
A Highway of the Nation. Address by Austin Scott, Ph. D., LL. 

D., President of Rutgers College 169 

The lane of retreat turned at Trenton, 172. — The New Jersey 
Supreme Court, in 1780, introduced the doctrine that an uncon- 
stitutional act of the Legislature is void, 172 — New Jersey's in- 
fluence in the Annapolis Convention of 1786, 172. — In the Fed- 
eral Convention of 1787, 173. — A Rutgers graduate suggests the 
system of "fixing the boundaries of the prairie farm by the ever- 
lasting stars," 174. — A New Jersey case leads to the decision that 
Congress alone can regulate commerce between the States, 171. 
New Jersey furnishes the Speaker of the House of Representa- 
tives in 1860, 171. — And two members of the Electoral Commis- 
sion of 1877, 175. 

Address, by Benjamin Harrison, ex-President of the United States, 177 



The Course of American History. Address by Woodrow Wilson, 
Ph. D., LL. D. , Professor of Jurisprudence in Princeton Uni- 
versity 181 

Importance and significance of local history, 184. — How it should 
be written, 185. — The contest for mastery between the North and 
the Sjuth, li7. — The mixture of population in the Middle States, 
189. — The advance of the frontiers, 191. — Europe frontiered, 
195. — The "Westerner " in Americau life, 195. — The old order 
of Presidents goes out as Andrew Jackson comes in, 199. —The 
frontiersman becomes dominant, 199. — Slavery an issue between 
East and West, not between North and South, 200. —Abraham 
Lincoln as a type, 201. — The mutual reaction of the East and 
West upon each other, 205. 



Index to Bibliography 207 

General Index 215 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

* Joseph C. Hornblower, First President of the Society, 1845- 

1864 Opposite Title 

J Fac simile of Card of Invitation Page 4 

•i Franklin Murphy, Chairman of the Committee on Semi-Centen- 

nial Celebration Opposite page 1 1 

. William Nelson, Recording Secretary, 1880-1890; Corresponding 

Secretary, 1890-19(0 15 

i Cortlandt Parker, sole survivor of the original members of the 

Society.. . . 31 

•4 James Parker, Second President of the Society, 1865-1868 33 

4 John Rutherfurd, Fourth President of the Society, 1871 35 

Rev. Ravaud Kearny. Kodgers, D. D., Fifth President of the 

Society, 1872-1875. 36 

J Rev. Samuel McClintock Hamill. D. D., Seventh President of the 

Society, 1876-1889. 39 

1 John Clement, Eighth President of the Society, 1890-1894 40 

Samuel H. Pennington, M. D. , LL. D. , Ninth President of the So- 
ciety, 1894-1896 42 

Peter D. Vroom, Vice President of the Society, 1845-1851 45 

I William A. Whitehead, Corresponding Secretary, 1845-1884 51 

I Stephen Wickes, M. D., Corresponding Secretary, 1885-1889. ... 55 

4 Joseph P. Bradley, Recording Secretary, 1845-1847 57 

J David Abbott Hayes, Recording Secretary, 1848-1875 61 

\ Thomas J. Striker, Treasurer, 1845-1848 62 

| Samuel H. Congar, Librarian, 1852-1872 66 

i Frederick William Ricord, Treasurer and Librarian, 1881-1897 . 68 
William O Wallace, the oldest member of the Society at the Semi- 
centennial Celebration (see page 42, note) 88 

Henry W. Green, Sixth President of the Society, 1875 96 

•J Richard S. Field, Third President of the Society, 1869 -1870 106 

Nathaniel Nilfs, the author of the original appropriation for the 
New Jersey Archives, and the originator of the Society's Wash- 
ington Centennial Medal. 117 

William S. Strykee, LL. D., Tenth President of the Society, 1896- 

1900 122 

i Austin Scott, Ph. D., LL. D. , Vice President of the Society 169 

Benjamin Harbison, President of the United States, 1889-1893.1 .. 177 

\ Prof. Woodrow Wilson, Ph. D. , LL. D 181 

1 For the use of this portrait the Society is indebted to the courtesy of D. Ap- 
pleton & Co. 




^^'OTJ^uJr^r^^ 




SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



OF 



he New Jersey Historical Society, 



NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 



May 16, 1895. 



PRESS OF THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1897. 



PRELIMINARY. 



For more than a year the Executive Committee of the 
New Jersey Historical Society had been looking forward 
to the semi centennial meeting, and the fitting celebration 
of the completion of the Society's half-century. The an- 
niversary properly occurred at the January meeting, 1895, 
at Trenton, but for various reasons it seemed advisable to 
defer the celebration until the May meeting, at Newark. 
It was also thought well to make a special feature of the 
occasion, the presentation to ex- President Harrison of a 
copy in gold, of the medal struck by the Society to com- 
memorate the Centennial of the inauguration of George 
Washington as the first President of the United States, on 
April 30, 1789, this Society having taken a prominent part 
in the Naval Parade on April 29, 1889, when Benjamin 
Harrison, then President of the United States, was the 
guest of honor of New York city. After several personal 
interviews and some correspondence, the presence of ex- 
President Harrison was promised for the meeting of the 
Society at Newark, on May 16, 1895. In the meantime, 
many preparations had been made. The Essex Lyceum, 
a lrirge hall on Clinton street, near the Society's rooms, 
was secured for the meeting. Handsomely-engraved cards 
of invitation were sent out, of which the following is a 
fac-simile : 



THE CARD OF INVITATION. 




SOME LETTERS RECEIVED. $ 

The responses evinced a gratifying interest in the ap- 
proaching event. Among the letters received, the Hon. 
James VV. Bradbury, formerly United States Senator from 
Maine, and now the oldest living ex-member of the United 
States Senate, wrote from Lakewood, N. J. : 

Please convey to the Committee my thanks for their kind invitation, and 
my sincere regret that I am unable to make my arrangements so as to be witb 
you on this interesting occasion. Your Society has done a good work in 
gathering the materials for history from the rich, historic ground of New 
Jersey, especially rich during the great struggle for equal rights aud Inde- 
pendence, which resulted in securing a government that with all its imper- 
fections I regard as the best the world has yet seen, as it rests on a written 
constitution, limiting and defining its powers, and will secure its permanency 
as long as the requirements and limitations of that incomparable instrument 
are faithfully obeyed. All honor to the association that labors to keep fresh 
the memory of the men that made the States. 

Although ex-Senator Bradbury is past ninety years of 
age, he writes a firm, clear hand that is the delight of the 
printers. 

George A. Gordon, Secretary of the New England His- 
toric-Genealogical Society, of Boston, wrote that the Rev. 
William Copley Winslow, D. D., had been appointed a del- 
egate by that Society to the Semi-Centennial of the New 
Jersey Historical Society, and Dr. Winslow wrote accept- 
ing the appointment. 

Professor Winthrop Hoar Daniels, of Princeton, sent his 
regrets, but desired to express his thanks for the invitation 
and his "hearty sympathy with the admirable work of the 
Society." 

Gen. Charles W. Darling, of the Oneida Historical So- 
ciety, Utica, N. Y., in sending his regrets, added: "The 
State of New Jersey, one of the original thirteen, has good 
reason to be proud of the New Jersey Historical Society, 
which has done so much to perpetuate and preserve its 
great record." 

Harry V. DeHart forwarded his regrets from Cleveland, 
Ohio, but wrote in this enthusiastic strain: "My heart is 



6 SOME LETTERS RECEIVED. 

still true to the dear old State, and I have not yet admitted 
that I am a resident of any other, in the hope that some 
day I may be able to tie up on native soil again, without 
the feeling that I have ever really cut loose. Thanking 
you for the invitation, which is a source of pleasure in 
itself, although I am not fortunate enough to be in a posi- 
tion to accept, and with a cordial greeting to all you Jer- 
seymen, whether I know you by sight or not." 

J. M. Randall, of East Orange, wrote: "I wish to ex- 
press through you, my gratitude to the Committee inviting 
me, and my wish that they may long live to guide and 
minister to a lasting life of New Jersey's Historical Socie- 
ty, she being one of the first to make State history, and 
may she be one of the last to fail in adding an enviable 
reputation to her former life as an individual member of 
our great nation. May her bright star continue to shine 
in the galaxy, adding renown and glory to her achieve- 
ments, and may this Society ever exist and prosper during 
a generation of ages in perfecting the blessings of free- 
dom, prosperity and love to all humanity." 

A letter was received from Professor William M. Sloane, 
of Princeton, as follows: "I have been much honored by 
the receipt of your invitation to participate in the celebra- 
tion of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the New Jer- 
sey Historical Society. It is with profound regret that I 
find myself unable to be present; the circumstances are 
known to you and I need not assure you of my intense in- 
terest in your work, nor of the proud satisfaction all right- 
minded and intelligent Jerseymen feel in the successful 
efforts you are making to rescue from oblivion the deeds 
of the ancestors, and assert our proud position in history." 

Letters of acceptance were also received from American 
Historical Association; T. Frank Appleby, Asbury Park; 
Lt. Com. Conway H. Arnold, Montclair; Theo. M. Banta, 



ACCEPTORS OK INVITATION'S. ~] 

New York; W. R. Barricklo, Jersey City; Dr. W. H. 
Parties, Flemington ; Charles Belcher, Newark ; William 
Bettle, Camden ; John A. Blair, Jersey City ; Rev. N.J. M. 
Bogert, Clover Hill, Hunterdon County; J. Lawrence 
Boggs, Newark; Mr. Breckenridge, New York; Henry M. 
Brooks, Salem, Mass ; Rev. James M. Buckley, D. D., 
Morristown ; Mrs. Hiram Cation, Newark; Prof. Henry C. 
Cameron, Princeton; C. C. Champenois, Newark; Sin- 
nickson Chew, Camden; the Misses Colton, Newark; Jo- 
seph \V. Congdon, Paterson ; Martin L Cox, Dover; Lou- 
is T. Derousse, Camden ; Taylor Dickson, Delanco ; Charles 
Hastings Dodd, Newark; Richard A. Donnelly, Trenton; 
Paul A. Doty, Paterson ; Henry T. Drowne, New York ; John 
C. Eisele, Trenton ; Friends' Historical Association, Joseph 
F. Truman, Philadelphia; Dr. J. H. Griffith, Phillipsburg ; 
William B. Gourley, Paterson ; E. D. Halsey, Morristown ; 
Amos W. Harrison, Orange; Rev. Dr. Chas. E. Hart, New 
Brunswick; Miss Alice A. Hayes, Newark; Walter F. 
Hayhurst, Lambertville ; C. H. Hinton, Princeton; Ed- 
ward O. Keasbey, Newark; George W. Ketcham, Newark; 
Josiah Ketcham, Belvidtre ; Frederic Kissam, Jersey City ; 
James A. Kline, Flemington : H. C. Loudenslager, M. C, 
Paulsboro ; Abraham Lower, Pt. Pleasant; James M. Lud- 
low, East Orange ; D. VV. Mahoney, Passaic ; Chalmers 
Martin, Princeton; Alexander T. McGill, Jersey City; 
John S. McMaster, Trenton; John E. Miller, Englewood ; 
W. C. Morton, Newark ; Edward Munn, Newark; Joseph 
L. Munn, Newark; Wm. H. Murphy, Newark; Col. S. V. 
S. Muzzy, Paterson; John Newell, New Brunswick; New- 
Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven, Conn. ; 
Mary D. Nuttman, Madison ; Onondaga Historical Associa- 
tion, Syracuse, N. Y. ; George Townley Parrot, Elizabeth ; 
William Pennington, Newark; Harwood B. Parke, Pater- 
son; Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Plume, Newark; J. C. Pumpel- 
ly, New York; John Reid, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. David 



S ACCEPTANCES AND REGRETS. 

Rollo, Newark; George P. Rust, Passaic; Rev. John H. 
Schofield, Budd's Lake; James M. Seymour, Newark; 
Clifford Stanley Sims, Mt. Holly; Alfred T. Skinner, 
Belleville; Wm. B. Southard, Newark; Wm. O. Stoddard, 
Madison; Mrs. C. C. Suydam, Elizabeth; W. V. Thomas, 
Elizabeth; James Usher, Weehawken ; O. Vanderhoven, 
Passaic ; Harrison Van Duyne, Newark ; Rev. A. G. Ver- 
milye, Englevvood ; H. W. Voorhees, Clinton ; William C. 
Wallace, Newark; J. Elfreth Watkins, Smithsonian Insti- 
tution ; Prof. Andrew F. West, Princeton ; George Wildes, 
Ameytown ; Henry J. Winser, Newark; Rev. William C. 
Winslow, D. D., Boston, Mass. ; Prof. C. A. Young, Prince- 
ton ; Cornelius Zabriskie, Jersey City. 

Regrets were received from : American Antiquarian So- 
ciety, Worcester, Mass.; Astor Library, New York; Wil- 
liam Russell Bennet, Madison ; James W. Bradbury, of 
Maine, Lakewood, N. J. ; James A. Bradley, Asbury 
Park; W. A. Brewer, jun., South Orange; E. A. Brinck- 
erhoff, Englewood ; Prof. Alex. F. Chamberlain, Wor- 
cester, Mass. ; David M. Chambers, Camden ; Francis 
Child, Newark; President Grover Cleveland, Washing- 
ton, D. C. ; Conn. Historical Society, Frank B. Gay, Sec'y, 
Hartford, Conn.; E. V. Connett, South Orange, Isaac 
Craig, Alleghany, Pa. ; Prof. Winthrop More Daniels, Prince- 
ton ; Gen. Charles W. Darling, Oneida Hist. Soc, Utica, 
N.Y. ; Harry V. DeHart, Cleveland, O. ; Wm. E. Drake, 
Jersey City; Ferd. J. Dreer, Philadelphia; Elliot Danforth, 
New York; Theo. F. Dwight, Boston, Mass.; Dr. Thomas 
Addis Emmet, New York ; M. T. Endicott, May's Land- 
ing; Thomas G. Evans, New York; Franklin Eyre, 
Philadelphia ; Genealogical Society of Penn., Francis O. Al- 
len, Philadelphia; Mr. Granniss, Morris Plains, N. J. ; Gen. 
A. W. Greely, Washington, D. C. ; W. S. Hancock, Tren- 
ton; Rev. John Hart, Neshanic ; T. W. Hines, Prince- 
ton ; Historical Society of Delaware, J. J. Gallagher, Wil- 



REGRETS. 9 

mington, Del. ; Garret A. Hobart, Paterson ; Prof. Wm. 
Guild Howard, Princeton ; Benj F. Howell, M. C., New 
Brunswick; Col. A. H. Hoyt, Boston, Mass.; Huguenot 
Society of America, Lea Mel. Luquer, Sec'y, New York ; 
T. W. Hunt, Princeton; Johns Hopkins University, Bal- 
timore, Md ; Dwight Arven Jones, Englewood ; John B. 
Kugler, Reaville, Hunterdon County ; Lafayette College, 
Easton, Pa. ; John VV. Lequear, Frenchtown ; Librarian 
Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass. ; Library Co. of 
Philadelphia, Jas. C. Barnwell, Philadelphia; Prof. E. H. 
Loomis, Princeton ; President Seth Low, Columbia Col- 
lege, New York ; Richard A. MacCurdy, Morris Plains; 
Donald MacKay, Englewood ; Prof. William F. Magie, 
Princeton ; Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md. ; 
L. VV. McCoy, Princeton ; Prof. Charles McM llan, Prince- 
ton ; Prof. James O. Murray, Princeton; N. Y. Genealog- 
ical and Biographical Society, Ric. M. Green, New York; 
N. Y. Historical Society, John A. King, President, New 
York; Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, B. S. Lyman, 
Philadelphia; Sheffield Phelps New York ; William John 
Potts, Camden; Wm. K. Prentice, Princeton; Paul A. 
Queen, Flemington ; J. M. Randall, East Orange; Taylor 
Reed, Newark; E. S. Renwick, New York; R. I. Histor- 
ical Society, Amos Perry, Providence, R. I. ; J. S. Salmon, 
Boonton ; Prof. J. S. Schanck, Princeton ; Francis Scott, 
Paterson; Rev. C. F. Sitterly, Madison ; Prof. William M. 
Sloane, Princeton ; Prof. H. S. S. Smith, Princeton ; James 
Smith, jun., Newark; W. V. Snyder, Newark; Sons of the 
American Revolution, A. Howard Clark, Washington, 
D. C. ; S. C. Historical Society, Clarence Cunningham, 
Charleston, S. C. ; Charles Starr, East Orange; Col. E. 
A. Stevens, Hoboken ; Rev. Dr. Storrs, Brooklyn, New 
York; Henry Dallas Thompson, Princeton ; Wm. Penning- 
ton Toler, New York; Lyon G. Tyler, Williamsburg, Va. ; 
George M. Van Hoesen, New York; C. Van Syckel, Flem- 



IO SOME FAMOUS J EKSEYMEN. 

ington ; Harriet N. Van Wagenen, Newark; A. Van Win- 
kle, Newark; Prof. Howard C. Warren, Princeton; West- 
ern Reserve Historical Society, Warren Upham. Cleveland, 
O. ; Fred. N. Willson, Princeton; Erastus W 7 iman, New 
York; Prof. S. R. Winans, Princeton; Justin Winsor, 
Cambridge, Mass. 

In accepting the invitation, J. Elfreth Watkins, Curator 
of Technological Collections in the National Museum at 
Washington, called attention to the following interesting 
facts, showing New Jersey's influence upon the introduc- 
tion and invention of the steam engine, steamship, locomo- 
tive and electric telegraph in America: 

First. — The first steam eugiue on the Western Continent was erected at the 
Belleville Copper Mines, near Newark, in 1753, by Hornblower, sixteen year 8 
before Watt began his investigations. 

Second. — 'lhe first steamboats driven by a single and twin screw propellers 
were constructed by John Stevens at Hobokeu, in 18U2 and 18UT. 

Third. — The " Phoenix," the first steamboat to navigate the ocean, was 
designed, constructed and navigated by Jersey men — John Stevens and his 
son, Robert L. Stevens, in 181.7-1808. 

ourth. — The first charter for a railroad in America was granted by the 
Legislature of New Jersey in 1814, f jr u railway from Trenton to New Bruns- 
wi'- 1 ' lining the War of 1812. 

Fifth. — 'lhe machinery of the "Savannah," the first steamship to cross the 
Atlantic Ocean, was constructed at the Vail Works, Speedwell, near Morris- 
town, N. J., in 1818. 

Sixth. — The first steam locomotive in Ameiica to convey human beings on 
a railroad track was constructed at Hobuken in 1825. 

Seventh. — The first successful experiments with the electro- magnetic tele- 
graph based upon the discoveries of Professor Heuiy, of Princeton College, 
were made by Vail and Morse at Speedwell Works, near Morristown, in 1838. 

Accompanying the invitations was the following pro- 
gramme and list of officers and committees of the Society: 



The Programme;. 1 1 



'845 1895 

THE 

- - SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY - - 



IRevv Jersey historical Society. 



TO BE HELD IN THE 



ESSEX LYCEUM, No. 27 CLINTON STREET, 



IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. 



©n Gbursba& fll>as Siyteentb, 1895. 



SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ANNIVERSARY, 

FRANKLIN MURPHY, Chairman. 

On Arrangements — 

William R. Weeks, Charles Bradley, John Whitehead, 
Theodore Coe, Francis M. Tichenor, John F. Drvden. 

On Speakers — 

Dr. Samuel H. Pennington, Frederick W. Ricord, David 
A. Depue, LL. D., Garret D. W. Yroom, F. Wolcott 
Jackson. 

On Invited Quests — 

Nathaniel Niles, Gen. William S. Sikvkek, William Nel- 
son, Rev. George S. Mott, D. D. 

Secretary and Treasurer, ERNEST E. COE. 



12 THE PROGRAMME. 



PROGRAMME. 

Regular Business, io A. M. 

Presiding Officer, Gen. William S. Stryker, Vice President 

Reading of the Minutes ok the Last Meeting. 

Ernest E. Coe, Recording Secretary 

Retort of the Corresponding Secretary. 

William Nelson 

Report of the Treasurer. 

Frederick W. Ricord 

Report of the Librarian. 

Frederick W. Ricord 

Report of the Executive Committee. 

Franklin Murphy, Chairman 

Report of the Committee on Finance. 

L. Spencer Goble, Chairman 

Report of Committee on Publications. 

Garret D. W. Vroom, Chairman 

Report of Committee on Library. 

Robert F. Ballantine, Chairman 

Report of Committee on Statistics. 

F. Wolcott Jackson, Chairman 

Report ok Committee on Genealogy for Several 

Counties of the State. 

Ernest E. Coe 

Report of the Committee on Colonial and Rev- 
olutionary Documents. 

William Nelson, Chairman 

Report of the Committee on Commemorative 

Medals. Nathaniel Niles, Chairman 

Report of the Committee on New Library Build- 
ing. 

Charles Bradley, Chairman 

Report of the Committee on Nomination of New 
Members. 

L. Spencer Goble, Chairman 

Report of Names of Persons to be Elected as 
Life Members Because of their Dona- 
tions of Newark Library Stock to the 
Society for its New Library Building. 

Charles Bradley, Chairman 

Reports from County Historical Societies. 

Miscellaneous. 



THE PROGRAMME. 



■3 



PUBLIC EXERCISES 

AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. 

Presiding Officer, Samuel H. Pennington, M. D., President. 
Address. 

"Fifty Years of Historical Work in New Jersey," 

William Nelson, Corresponding Secretary. 
Address. 

Prof. Wood row Wilson, Ph. D., LL. D., Princeton University. 

Presentation of the Society's Gold Medal to 
Benjamin Harrison, Centennial Presi- 
dent of the United States in 1889. 

Austin Scott, Ph. D., LL. D., President of Rutgers College. 

This medal was struck by the New Jersey Historical Society to commemorate the 
formation of the Constitutional Government of the United States and the inauguration of 
General Washington as the first President, April 30, 1789. 

presidents. 

1845 - - Joseph C. Hornelower - 1S67 

1868 - - James Parker - - - 1869 

1869 - - Richard S. Field - 1871 

1871 - - John Rutherfurd - - 1872 

1872 - Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, D. D. - 1S74 

1875 - - Henry W. Green - - 1876 

1876 - Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, D. D. - 1S90 
1890 - - - John Clement - - - 1894 
1S94 - Samuel H. Pennington, M. D. - — 

Corresponding Secretaries. 

1845 " " William A. Whitehead - - 1885 
1885 - Stephen Wickes, M. D. - 1890 
1890 - - William Nelson - 

IRecoroing Secretaries. 

1845 " " Joseph P. Bradley - - 1847 

1848 • - John S. Condict - - 1848 

May 25, 1848 - David A. Hayes - - 1875 

1876 - - Adolphus P. Young - - 1S79 

18S0 - - William Nelson - - 1890 

1890 - - William R. Weeks - - 1S94 

1894 - - Ernest E. Coe 

librarians. 

1845 " William A. Whitehead - 1848 

May 25, 1848 Samuel H. Pennington, M. D. - 1852 

1852 - - Samuel H. Congar - - 1S7 1 

1875 - - Martin R. Dennis - - 1880 

1881 - - Frederick W. Ricord - 



I A OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES. 

treasurers. 

1845 - - Thomas J. Stryker - - 1S48 

1S48 - - James Ross - - 1856 

1856 - - Samuel H. Congar - - 1S60 

i860 - - Solomon Alofskn - - 1S67 

186S - - Robert S. Swords - - 1880 

18S1 - - Frederick W. Ricord - - 

OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1895. 

President, - - Samuel H. Pennington, M. D., Newark 

/•Gen. William S. Stryker, Trenton 
Vice Presidents, - - -Rev. Geo. S. Mott, D. D., Flemington 

(Jonathan YV. Roliei ts, Morris Plains 

Treasurer and Librarian, - Frederick W. Ricord, Newark 

Corresponding Secretary, - - William Nelson, Paterson 

Recording Secretary, - - - Ernest E. Coe, Newark 

LIBRARY, Broad and Bank Streets, Newark. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

Franklin Murphy, - Chairman. 

David A. Depue, Garret D. W. Vroom, Robert F. Ballantine, 

John I. Blair, James Neilson, Nathaniel Niles, 

Charles Bradley, William Clark. 

STANDING COMMITTEES. 

Finance — L. Spencer Gohle, Charles G. Rockwood, James D. Orton, 
Theodore Coe, Francis M. Tichenor. 

Publications — Garret D. W. Vroom, Austin Scott, William Nelson, 
Edmund D. Halsey, Ernest E. Coe. 

Library — Robert F. Ballantine, Frederick W. Ricord, Ernest E. Coe, 
George J. Hagar, Aaron Lloyd. 

Statistics — F. Wolcott Jackson, Arthur Ward, M. D., Samuel F. Bige- 
low, Edward H. Stokes. 

Nominations — L. Spencer Goble, Garret D. W. Vroom, Rev. Allen H. 
Brown. 

SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 

Committee on Colonial and Revolutionary Documents — William 
Nelson, Garret D. W. Vroom, Frederick W. Ricord, Gen. William 
S. Stryker, Edmund D. Halsey. 

Committee on Commemorative Medals— Nathaniel Niles, Gen. Wil- 
liam S. Stryker, William Nelson, Charles Bradley, William R. 
Weeks. 

Committee on New Library Building— Charles Bradley, Francis M. 
Tichenor, William R. Weeks, Garret D. W. Vroom, William Nel- 
son, L. Spencer Goble. 




WILLIAM NELSON 



FIFTY YEARS 



OP 



HISTORICAL WORK 



NEW JERSEY. 



B V WILLIAM NELSON. 



Mr. President, and Friends, of the New Jersey Historical 
Society : 
When the invitation was extended to me two or three 
weeks ago, to prepare for this occasion an address review- 
ing the work of the Historical Society in the past fifty 
years, I confess that it staggered me. Visions immedi- 
ately arose in my mind of statistical tables, giving the num- 
ber of books, of pamphlets, of newspapers, of portraits, 
pictures and manuscripts in the collections of the Society; 
of the number of volumes of Proceedings, of the pages in 
each volume, of the long lists of papers read at the hun- 
dred or more meetings during the last half century; of the 
men who had been instrumental in founding and carrying 
on its work — nomina venerabilia — and among them how 
difficult to select those deserving special mention without 
doing injustice to others. All these and countless other 
details going to make up the visible evidence of the work 
of the New Jersey Historical Society, came into my mind. 
And with them came the thought that while many would 
linger tenderly over the names of those men who have 
passed away, and would recall with pleasure the voice, the 
smile, the inspiring word of many a one who has long since 
gone over to the majority ; while the younger students of 
history might be pleased to have pointed out to them the 
treasures of information buried in our printed Proceedings, 
such details as these are apt to be tiresome upon an occa- 
sion like this. And so, submitting these ideas to your 

committee, I accepted their invitation with the express 
3 



iS FIFTY YEARS OF 

proviso that I should be excused from dwelling upon these 
minutiae, and instead be indulged in speaking somewhat 
infoimally regarding the origin, the progress, and the work 
of the New Jersey Historical Society. 

In these latter days of persistent investigation regard- 
ing the origin of things, it is proper to recognize the fact 
that if this Society, like Minerva, sprang into being full 
grown, it nevertheless had its germinal period, during which 
attention was gradually directed to the fact that the early 
settlement and government of New Jersey presented many 
phases of peculiar interest, and hence arose a desire for 
fuller knowledge. 



PART I. 
How the Way was Prepared. 

" what's past is prologue." 

Industrious Persons, by an exact and scrupulous Diligence and Observations, 
out of Monuments. Names. Words, Proverbs, Traditions, Private Records and 
Evidences. Fragments of Stories. Passages of Books that concern not Story, and 
the like, do save and recover Somewhat from the Deluge of Time. — Bacon, Advance- 
ment of Learning, Book II. 

The first work to present the original sources of infor- 
mation on these topics was the invaluable compilation of 
Aaron Learning and Jacob Spicer, published in 1758, and 
embracing the Grants and Concessions of the first English 
Lords Proprietaries, with other documents, legislative enact- 
ments, and miscellaneous records, covering the period 
from the Grant of King Charles I., in 1664, to the surren- 
der by the Proprietaries to Queen Anne, in 1702. It is 
not unlikely that the publication of this collection induced 
Samuel Smith, of Burlington, to undertake a history of 
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, of which the portion relat- 
ing to our State was printed at Burlington, by James 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 19 

Parker, 1 in 1765, with the title, •• History of the Colony of 
Nova Caesaria, or New Jersey." This admirable work sets 
forth many previously unpublished documents and letters, 
particularly in relation to the settlement of West Jersey, 
chiefly by Friends. 2 It is to be regretted that the author 
only brought the narrative down to 1721. 

FOREIGN HISTORIANS. 

An additional contribution to our early history appeared 
in Chalmers's "Political Annals," 3 in 1780, followed two 
years later by the same author's " Introduction to the Re- 
volt of the Colonies." The former work, however, was 
costly and ponderous, and the latter was immediately sup- 
pressed by the writer, 4 so that neither was readily available 
to the student. More philosophical in character, and writ- 
ten in a spirit of sympathetic appreciation, was Grahame's 
History, the first two volumes of which appeared in 1827; 
the second volume gave a concise but clear view of the 
complexities attending the first twenty years of English 

1 It was stated by Isaiah Thomas, in his History of Printing, issued in 1810, that 
Parker removed his press from Woodbridge to Burlington, to accommodate Mr. 
Smith, and that when the History was completed the press was returned to Wood- 
bridge. The story was such a good one. as illustrative of the primitive days of 
printing in New Jersey, that it has been repeated innumerable times since. Non 
i vero,e ben trovato ! But it is not true. Parker had a press at Woodbridge and an- 
other at Burlington at the same time, and continued printing at both places mil il 
1770. 

- The original MS. of Samuel Smith is in the library of the Society. Robert 
Proud evidently drew largely from it for his History of Pennsylvania, although he 
fails to make acknowledgments. See Proceedings N. J. Hist. Soc, VIII.. 10, 128. 

3 Political Annals of the Present United Colonies, from their Settlement to the 
Peace of 1763: Compiled chiefly from Records, and authorized of ten by the inser- 
tion of State-Papers. By George Chalmers, Esq. Book I. For the Author, by J. 
Bowen. M.DCC.LXXX. 4to. Pp. (8). 695. A "Continuation," by the author, was 
printed from his MS. in the N. Y. Hist. Society's Collections, L868. 

4 It was reprinted, with a second volume, from the author's MS., in 1845, at 
Boston. 

» The History of the Rise and Progress of the United States of North America, 
till the British Revolution in 1(588. By James Grahame, Esq. In two volumes. 
London. 1827. 8vo. Pp. xvi. 531; viii. 528. The complete work in four volumes 
(the first two volumes revised) appeared in 1836. It was reprinted, enlarged and 
amended, at Boston, in 1845. with a prefatory memoirof the author. 



20 FIFTY YEARS OF 

rule in New Jersey, and was the best presentation of the 
subject which had yet appeared. 

In 1822 William Griffith, the eminent lawyer, of Bur- 
lington, in his Annual Law Register of tlic United States, 
Vol. IV., gave the first succinct account of the origin, his- 
tory, jurisdiction and practice of the Courts of New Jersey, 
a work that is becoming more appreciated in these later 
years than it was at first. 

A revival of patriotic zeal in New Jersey's splendid Rev- 
olutionary record attended the appearance in 1833 of 
Theodore Sedgwick's valuable though sadly inadequate 
Memoir of the Life of William Livingston, 1 the vigorous 
and efficient Governor through the trying epoch, 1776- 
1790. It was perhaps due to this that the Legislature was 
led, in 1835, to order the reprinting of the Journals of the 
Provincial Congress of 1 775-1 776. 

THE SWEDISH SETTLEMENTS IN NEW JERSEY. 

The subject of the Swedish settlements on the Delaware 
was still a sealed book to the American historian. The 
New York Historical Society, in the second volume of its 
collections, in 18 14, had given fourteen pages of a quaint 
" Extract of a Translation of the History of New Sweed 
Land in America, written in Sweed by Thomas Campanius 
Holm, late of New Sweed Land Al's Delaware." Its third 
volume of Collections, in 182 r, contained some extracts 
from Maryland records relative to the assertion of Dutch 
control over New Sweden; but it was not until 1834 that 
scholars were given a full translation of Holm's invaluable 
work (published at Stockholm in 1702), by Peter S. Du- 

1 A Memoir of the Life of William Livingston, member of Congress in 1774, 
1775, and 1776; delegate to the Federal Convention in 1787. and Governor of the 
State of New-Jersey from 1776 to 1790. With extracts from his correspondence, 
and notices of various members of his family. By Theodore Sedgwick, jun. New- 
York, 1833. 8vo. Pp. 449. (2). 7. A few years after Livingston's death it was an- 
nounced in New Jersey newspapers of the day that a collection of his writings. 
with a memoir, was about to be published, and Sedgwick says the proposition was 
favorably received. Who was collecting this material, and what became of if? 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 21 

ponceau, and which appeared in Vol. III. of the Memoirs 
of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 1 This work, the 
account by Acrelius, and some unpublished manuscript 
notes by the Rev. Andreas Rudman, furnished the mate- 
rials for a little book, "Annals of the Swedes on the Dela- 
ware," by the Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay, issued in 1835.'- 

gordon's history and gazetteer. 
While attention had been thus bestowed upon special 
features of New Jersey history, no attempt was made to 
supplement or supersede Samuel Smith's work until 1834, 
when Thomas F. Gordon published his " History of New 
Jersey from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of 
the Federal Constitution." It was accompanied by a 



' 8vo. Pp. 1(30. The same Society added to our obligations in this direction by 
publishing, in 1874. in handsome style, as Vol. XI. of its Memoirs, an excellent 
translation, by William M. Reynolds. D. D.. of the large work of Israel Acrelius, 
•■ A History of New Sweden; or, the Settlements on the Delaware." with a valua- 
ble Introduction and Notes. 8vo. Pp. 1, 17-458. The original was wretchedly 
printed at .Stockholm, in 1759, in a square octavo, large type. pp. (20), 533, (1). For 
various papers relating to the Swedes in New Jersey see " A Brief Account of 
the Swedish Mission in Raccoon and Penn's Neck. New Jersey." by Rev. Nicholas 
Collin, D. D., in N. J. Hist. Soc. Proa, III.. 105 122: " History and Location ol Fort 
Nassau on the Delaware," by Edward Armstrong, in N. J. Hist. Soc. Proa, VI., 
187-207: "Scandinavian Settlements in New Jersey." in N. J. Hist. Soc. Proa, IX.. 
141--J: " Swedish Settlements in Gloucester County prior to 1684." by John Clem- 
ent. inPenn. Mag. of Hist, and Biog., XVII.. 83. Vol. XII.. of N. Y. Col. Docs., 
is entirely made up of documents relating to the Swedes and the Dutch on the Del- 
aware. Vol. V.. 2d Penn. Archives, consists of Papers relating to the Swedish 
Colonies on the Delaware, and Vol. VII.. of the same series, is largely made up 
from Vol. XII.. N. Y. Col. Docs. The " Annals of Pennsylvania," by Samuel Haz- 
ard, Philadelphia. 1850. contains much on the same subject. Benjamin Ferris, in 
his History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware. Wilmington, 1846, de- 
plored the lack of translations of the Swedish authors, apparently appreciating 
the importance and interest of this theme. But the subject of the local gcr\ em- 
inent, system of land tenure, and details of the times and places of the Swedish 
settlements in New Jersey, is still virgin field for the patient investigator. The 
Dissertatio Gradualis de Plantatione Ecclesise Svecanae in America, by Tobias E. 
Biorck, Upsal, 1731, is worthy of a translation and proper annotation. In his Eng- 
lish (?) dedication he makes allusion to 

How Swedish Church is planted there 
Of Swedish Priests and Sheeps, 

On both they Sides of de la Ware, 
Among great many Heaps, 

Of diverse Sects and Indians. 
2 Philadelphia. Small 12mo. Pp. 180. A second edition, "corrected and en- 
larged," was published in 1858, 12mo., pp. 17i». 



22 FIFTY YEARS OF 

Gazetteer, the first and only one ever attempted for our 
State. The History is merely a compilation, with little 
effort at originality, and none at literary embellishment, 
but with all its deficiencies is a meritorious work. 

BANCROFT'S THRILLING ELOQUENCE. 

This same year was signalized by the appearance of the 
first volume of Bancroft's History of the United States, 
wherein the remotely scattered events that led to the dis- 
covery and settlement of the American Colonies were 
marshaled in stately order, and related with a glowing elo- 
quence that lent to his pages all the charm of romance. 
The second volume, issued in 1837, clothed the dry annals 
of Chalmers, and the terse narrative of Grahame, relative 
to New Jersey, with the flesh and blood of reality, as the 
fiendish persecutions of Claverhouse, the butcheries of 
Jefferies, and the glorious sturdihood of the Scotch Cove- 
nanters were all made to throw a lurid light upon the cir- 
cumstances attending the Scottish settlements in East Jer- 
sey. Bancroft created a new school of historians in Amer- 
ica, and did inestimable service in making history attrac- 
tive, while disdaining to sacrifice accuracy to rhetorical 
effect. 

There are who doubtless deem it justly said 
That fact with poesy should never wed: . . . 
'Tis just— when Fancy, passing- lawful bounds. 
The fair proportions of the truth confounds; 
Not. when she simply to the light would hold, 
And crown the picture with her frame of gold. 
And reasons throng me why the Muses twain. 
That o'er the realms of fact, and fancy, reign, 
Would search the heart more surely hand in hand, 
And rule more widely with a twin command. 

Who can doubt that Bancroft's early volumes aroused a 
special interest among many Jerseymen in all that per- 
tained to their early annals? 

NICHOLAS MURRAY — WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD. 
About this time (1833-1834) a young clergyman at 
Elizabethtown began gathering materials concerning the 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 23 

history of his church and town, which he presented to his 
people in a series of New Year's sermons, until in 1844 he 
was induced, at the request of his congregation, to publish 
the results of his researches, in what was at that time the 
best local history yet issued in New Jersey. 1 This was an 
account of the first of the New England colonies in our 
State, and it had peculiar interest from the fact that it 
described the origin and progress of a settlement inde- 
pendent of and hostile to the claims of the East Jersey 
Proprietaries and their Government — an imperium in im- 
perior 

Shortly before Mr. Murray had his attention drawn 
to historical subjects, another young man — William A. 
Whitehead — became interested in the annals of the ancient 
town of Perth Amboy, where he had spent his adolescent 
years, and while paying his attention at another shrine, was 
likewise a devotee of the Muse of History. To his skilful 
pencil we are indebted for accurate drawings depicting 
buildings and scenes in. and about Perth Amboy as far back 
as 1832, "copying fair what time had blurred." Hav- 
ing special facilities for access to the records of the East 
Jersey Proprietaries, in the office at Perth Amboy, and to 
the extensive accumulations of his prospective father-in- 
law, James Parker, he was able to glean in an unexplored 
field. Like Chaucer's Clerk, 

Gladly wolde lie lerne, and gladly teehe, 



1 Notes. Historical and Biographical, concerning Elizabeth-Town, its eminent 

men. churches and ministers. By Nicholas Murray. Elizabeth-Town. 1^44. 12 mo. 
Pp. 166. In the preface he relates the origin of the work. 

2 The Proprietaries' side had been set forth with prodigious research and great 
legal acumen in the Elizabeth-Town Bill in Chancery, printed in 1747— a mine of 
information regarding the title of the Proprietaries and their grantees, and the 
original settlement of the present Essex. Union. Middlesex and Somerset counties. 
The original Bill, beautifully engrossed on parchment, was discovered by Joseph 
P. Bradley, in his younger days as a practitioner, lying scattered on the Moor of a 
room in the Chancery clerk's office, where his assistants were utilizing it by cut- 
ting off strips for writs and other purposes. He identified it. and had it rescued 
from further mutilation. It is now carefully preserved in the office of the < 'lerk in 
Chancery, in the State House. 



2 4 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



and hence there appeared in the Newark Daily Advertiser, 
about 1840, a series of articles, " Glimpses of the Past," in 
which were narrated with a graceful style that added to the 
charm of an interesting theme, accounts of the early settle- 
ments, the governmental difficulties, the prominent men, 
the manners and customs of by-gone days in East Jersey. 
These were afterwards gathered together, with additions, 
and published in works hereafter mentioned. 1 

fenwick's colony. 

In 1839 Col. Robert G. Johnson, a lineal descendant of 
John Fenwick, and the inheritor of his papers, published 
"An Historical Account of the First Settlement of Salem, 
in West Jersey." This gave a much fuller and more accu- 
rate narration than had previously appeared, of the 
settlement of that part of the State south of Burlington, 
and made available to the student a number of valuable 
original documents. 

A FASCINATING PUZZLE. 

One of the fascinating puzzles of New Jersey history 
has long been that excessively rare little tract, by "Beau- 
champ P'antagenet" : "A Description of the Province of 
New Albion. And a Direction for Adventurers with small 
stock to get two for one, and good land freely. And for 
Gentlemen, and all Servants, Labourers, and Artificers, to 
live Plentifully. And a former Description Reprinted of 
the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest Plantation of New 
Albion in North Virginia, proved by thirteen Witnesses," 
and so on and so on — a ponderous title, surely, for a pamph- 
let of thirty-eight pages, to say nothing of the further 
weight of three woodcuts of the "Ploydenes Armes." "Al- 

1 It is a curious fact that New Jersey history is so greatly indebted to these two 
men— Nicholas Murray and William A. Whitehead— the one an Irishman, and the 
other the son of an Englishman. A parallel is found in New York, whose dis- 
tinguished historiographer, the translator of most of her Dutch documents, and 
the ablest chronicler of the Dutch sway in Ne n Netherland— not even barring 
Diedrich Knickerbocker! —was Dr. Edmund B. OTJallaghan, an Irishman. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 25 

bions Armes," and "The Order, Medall and Riban of the 
Albion Knights." So far as the vague and bombastic de- 
scriptions enlighten us, this "Province of New Albion" in- 
cluded New Jersey, which the tract, published in 1650, as- 
serts was occupied by Sir Edmund Ployden in 1648, under 
a patent from King Charles I. An ingenious "Exam- 
ination" of this work was published in 1840 by John Pen- 
ington, 1 in which some of the improbabilities and absurd 
hies of the author are cleverly exposed. Curiously enough, 
so far as the writer is aware no adequate attempt has been 
made thoroughly to cover this ground, although it is clear 
that Mr. Penington by no means settled the question. ~ 

BARBER AND HOWE'S "HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS." 

Thus far West Jersey had produced most of the histo- 
ries and historians of our State. Now a more ambitious 
enterprise was undertaken. Encouraged by success along 
the same line in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New 
York, two young men came to New Jersey in the spring of 
1842, and -with much industry accumulated a large amount 
of material relating to the history of the several counties 
and minor subdivisions of the State, which they published 
in 1844, under the modest title, " Historical Collections of 
the State of New Jersey" — by John VV. Barber and Henry 
Howe. It was a stout octavo, of 512 pages, bound in 
mottled sheep, and was adorned with scores of rude wood- 

i Philadelphia. 8vo. Pp. 33. Reprinted from Memoirs of the Historical Society 
of Pennsylvania. Vol. IV.. pp. 133-165. 

- The Rev. Garret < '. Schenck in "An Inquiry into the location of Mounl Ploy- 
den, the seat of the Raritan King," a paper read before this Society, Sept. II, 1851, 
applied his knowledge of the topography and geography of Central New Jersey to 
the tentative solution of some of the problems presented by Plantagenet's loose 
descriptions.— .V. ./. Hint. Sue. F'rnc, VI.. 25. Many facts concerning Plowden are 
given in "Sir Edmund Plowden. Lord Earl Palatinate. Governor and Captain 
General of New Albion in North America." a paper by the Rev. Edward H 
in thePenn. Mag., V.. 208. Additional particulars of his stormy experiences in New 
Jersey are given in the same Magazine, VII., 50, together with a certified copy of 
his Patent, dated 21 June. 10th Charles I. See also N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. I860, 
213 20, for contemporary allusions I i Pi tyJen. 
4 



26 FIFTY YEARS OF 

cuts, marked by a direct simplicity and a rough fidelity to 
nature that have made them the delight of two generations 
of children since their first appearance. The work was 
roughly thrown together. Gordon's Gazetteer furnished 
most of the geographical, topographical and statistical 
data. A few well known diaries and biographies supplied 
the details of Revolutionary events in the various localities, 
and frequently old newspapers, ancient records, tomb- 
stones, or the "oldest inhabitant" were drawn upon for 
local chronicles of a more or less trustworthy character. 
Imperfect as it was, probably no book has done as much 
to arouse an interest in New Jersey history as " Barber and 
Howe." 1 

TRENTON. — OLD GLOUCESTER. 

A series of articles in a Trenton newspaper in 1840, by 
the Rev. Eli F. Cooley, brought to light much valuable in- 
formation concerning that neighborhood, of more than 
local interest, because of Washington's famous strategic 
move in recrossing the Delaware on Christmas night, in 
1776, and on account of the location of the State capital, 
so near to the line between East Jersey and West Jersey. 

Shortly after, Isaac Mickle, a prominent lawyer of 
Camden, began publishing in a local journal a number of 
papers on the early history of that region, which were 
issued in book form in the beginning of 1845, under the 
title, " Reminiscences of Old Gloucester; or incidents in 
the history of the Counties of Gloucester, Atlantic and 
Camden."'- These "Reminiscences" comprised copious 
extracts from ancient local records, and contained a mass 
of information about the early settlements, the whole set 

1 Other editions were printed from the same plates in 1845. in 1853. and in 1868. 
Of the introductory chapter, pp. 35 52, 59-63, were drawn from William A. White- 
head's "Glimpses of the Past," previously published in the Newark Daily Adver- 
tiser. 

- Printed at Camden (in double columns, from newspaper type), but published 
in Philadelphia. 8vo. Pp. (4). !I8. (1). A second edition (a reprint) was issued. 
in similar form, at Camden, in 1877. 8vo. Pp. (2). 106. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 27 

forth in elegant diction and with a wealth of erudition and 
classic allusion that make the book to this day one of the 
most readable contributions to our local history. 1 

THE FIRST DUTCH SETTLERS OF NEW JERSEY. 

Those who have followed me thus far may have noticed 
with surprise that no mention has been made of any his- 
tory of the Dutch settlements of New Jersey. Simply be- 
cause there was none. The first settlers of our State, the 
sturdy pioneers who here planted the original banners of 
civilization, of religious and political liberty ; who offered 
a free asylum to all men and all women, without question- 
ing their views as to kings, potentates or forms of govern- 
ment ; who respected every man's religious faith as a mat- 
ter between himself and his God ; those brave, simple Hol- 
landers who first established in New Netherland (including 
New Jersey) the principles of free self-government which 
they had brought with them from their native land — these 
splendid patriots and founders of a genuine Republic in 
America, and here in our own State, forty years before the 
English dreamed of settling in New Jersey — had found no 
historian to chronicle these beginnings of home rule, des- 
tined to leaven the whole body politic of America, until the 
principle here quietly asserted and practiced on the Hud- 
son and the Delaware, should be established throughout 
this land, this continent, and this hemisphere, and even in 

i The finale is worth quoting: 

" Of the ninety-six men whose writings, gentle reader, we have carefully ran- 
sacked for thy amusement, or it may lie. thy instruction, of [a] few we have 
thought it best to make special mention. For, as in writing the history of Glou- 
cester county, we have sought to give thee not those facts which any school-bools 
or newspaper could tell thee, but rather those which arc curious, and by the ignor- 
ant, incredible; so in speaking of the historians of our good County, we introduce 
to thee not thorough acquaintances, such as Smith and Gordon, bul those ancient 
worthies who hide themselves in the corners of liltrarics and the lofts of houses. 
It is these whom we have invoked to tell thee stories of thy native land. Question 
them soundly: for they can give thee much that we have not even hinted. Re- 
member them well; for it is , ( / home that true knowledge ever begins." 



2S FIFTY YEARS OP 

the Old World, that " all men are created free and equal." 1 
Strangely enough, the very names of these early heroes, 
soldiers and statesmen were known to the men of this cen- 
tury only through Washington Irving's absurd travesty, 
characterized by inaccuracy, gross caricature, and a total 
lack of perception of the truths so strangely distorted. 3 But 
at last New York awoke to the partial realization of the in- 
justice which had been done her early history by the [ seu- 
donymous " Diedrich Knickerbocker." In 1841 the New 
York Historical Society began a new series of its valu- 
able Collections, in a volume embracing the earliest ac- 
counts of New Netherlands In the same year the State 
of New York sent John Romeyn Brodhead abroad 4 to 
gkan from the archives of England, Holland and France 
whatever he could find relating to that State. The result 
subsequently appeared in O'Callaghan's History of New 
Netherlands in Brodhead's History of New York, 6 1609— 

1 It may be said that the Dutch set the commendable example of buying the lands 
of the Indians. Manhattan Island having bsen so purchased and paid for in 1626. 
In 16:29 the Dutch West India Company, in the charter of liberties, provided that 
•• whoever shall settle any colony out of the limits of the Manhattan Island, shall 
be obliged to satisfy the Indians for the land they shall settle upon.*' This was 
fifteen years before William Penn was born, and more than half a century before 
he adopted the honest Dutch custom, in his famous treaty with the Indians of 
Pennsylvania. 

2 In 18415 David T. Valentine began the publication, in his Manual of the Corpor- 
ation of the City of New York, of extracts from the Proceedings of the Director 
General and Councillors of New Netherland, and of the Burgomaster and Schepens 
of New Amsterdam. This historical department of his Manual proved so popular 
that in subsequent issues he greatly expanded it. so that the series of Corporation 
Manuals from 184.J to 1870 contain a vast amount of information relating to the 
government and the families of New Netherland. including the west side of the 
Hudson river. 

3 8vo. Pp. 486. About 380 pages relate to the Dutch settlement of the country. 
•4 The New York Historical Society had memorialized the Legislature of that 

State in 1814 and again in 1838 on the importance of procuring from the archives of 
foreign governments the documents absolutely necessary to throw light on her his- 
tory. The second effort was successful in securing the legislation under which Mr. 
Brodhead was commissioned as the agent of the State for the purpose. 

6 History of New Netherland: or. New York under the Dutch. By E. B. O'Cal- 
laghan. M. D. Vol. I. was issued in New York in 1845. and a second edition in 1855. 
8vo. Pp. 493. Vol. II. in 1848. 8vo. Pp. 608. 

6 History of the State of New York. By John Romeyn Brodhead. First Peri- 
od. 1609-1631. 8vo. Pp. xv. 801. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 20 

1664, but, most important, in that splendid series of quarto 
volumes known as the New York Colonial Documents 1 — a 
magnificent monument to an intelligent pride in her annals 
by the Empire State. 

FAILURES CULMINATING IN A LARGER SUCCESS. 

The example thus set by New York led to an effort in 
the same direction in New Jersey, where an appeal was 
made to the Legislature to avail itself of the opportunity to 
ascertain through Mr. Brodhead, then in Europe, what there 
was in foreign archives throwing light upon the history of 
our own State. In 1S44 Governor Daniel Haines was in- 
duced to commend this subject to the Legislature in his 
annual message, and the matter was referred to a commit- 
tee, which subsequently made an admirable and compre- 
hensive report. This document 2 was drawn up by William 
A. Whitehead, who was deeply interested in the project. 
A significant passage occurs in the report : "ft is, perhaps, 
a matter of regret that an association similar to the Histor- 
ical Society of New York, has not been formed in New Jer- 
sey, to collect materials and obtain information on this sub- 
ject." The measure was again lost in the Assembly. But 
like many more momentous movements in the world's 011- 

1 Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York; pro- 
cured in Holland, England and France, by John Romeyn Brodhead, Agent, . . . 
Edited by E. B. O'Callaghan. Albany. 1856-1861. 4to. lOvols. and index. The srol- 
umes covering the Dutch era of course relate largely to New Jersey, but the whole 
series is indispensable to him who would know the history of the men and events 
of our State prior to the Revolution. The publication was resumed in 1S77. when 
Vol. XII. was issued, relating to the Dutch and the Swedes on the Delaware. Ad- 
ditional volumes are XIII.. in 1881, relating to the History and Settlement of the 
towns along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, 1630-1684; XIV., in 1883, relating to 
the history of the early Colonial Settlements, particularly in Long Island, 1630- 
1684; XV.. in 1887, New York in the Revolution. Companion volumes (like the lasl 
four, from records in the Secretary of state's office, Albany) are the Documentarj 
History of New York. 4 vols, quarto, 1850-1851; Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, 
1630-1776, 2 vols, quarto, 1865-1866; Calendar of Historical Manuscripts relating to 
the war of the Revolution. 2 vols, quarto, 1868. All of these volumes are full of in- 
formation relating to New Jersey or to its early se1 1 lers or later soldiers. 

2 Printed in the preface to N. J. Hist. Soc. Collections, v.. vii-xii. 



^o Fifty years of 

ward and upward progress, the failure led to a larger suc- 
cess, which we celebrate to-day. 

PART II. 

Organization of the New Jersey Historical Society. 

The repeated agitation of the subject of our lacking 
archives before the Legislature, the interesting and valua- 
ble reports by Mr. Whitehead, and the consequent discus- 
sion of the matter in the newspapers, all served to arouse 
and stimulate an interest in our early history, while it be- 
came apparent, also, that if anything was to be done by the 
State there must be an organized movement to achieve the 
desired result. When the Legislature convened in Janu- 
ary, 1845, Gov. Haines again called their attention to the 
importance of completing our records from the originals 
deposited in England and America. 1 On January 13, 1845, 
a number of gentlemen met in Trenton with the purpose of 
organizing an Historical Society, and thus to lend support 
to the Governor's recommendation. A severe snow storm 
prevailed, and but few attended. Ex-Governor Peter D. 
Vroom was appointed Chairman, and the Rev. Eli F. Cool- 
ey Secretary. A committee was appointed to draft a con- 
stitution and by-laws, and the meeting then adjourned to 
meet at Trenton, on February 27th, 1845. On that day a 
number of gentlemen from different parts of the State met, 
pursuant to adjournment, at the City Hall, in Trenton. 
Stacy G Potts was chosen Chairman (in the absence of 
ex-Governor Vroom), and Joseph P. Bradley was made 



1 The needed appropriation was again voted down. In January. 1846. the His- 
torical Society presented a memorial to the Legislature. It was referred to a spe- 
cial committee in the Assembly, which on Feb. \9. 1846. presented another com- 
prehensive report, full of information on the subject.— N. J. Hi.st. Coll., V.. xiii — 
xvii. The desired appropriation was again defeated, and a like fate met renewed 
applications in 1847. 1848. 1849 and 1850. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 31 

Secretary. The committee on constitution and by-laws 
reported, through the Rev. D. V. McLean, chairman; the 
constitution was adopted, and THE New Jersey HISTORI- 
CAL SOCIETY was formally organized, and elected its first 
officers. 1 At the meeting when this result was accom- 
plished, twenty of those present were enrolled as the pio- 
neer members of the Society ' 

It will interest many to repeat their names here: Jo- 
seph P. Bradley, Newark; George Clinton Bush, Tren- 
ton; Rev. Jonathan Cogswell, D. D., New Brunswick; 
Rev Eli F. Cooley, Trenton ; Richard S. Field, Pr nceton ; 
Henry W. Green, Trenton; Archer Gifford, Newark; 
Thomas Gordon, Trenton ; Edward Harris, Trenton ; 
Samu. 1 R. Hamilton, Trenton; William B. Kinney, New- 
ark; Rev. Aaron A. Marcellus, Freehold; Rev. Daniel V. 
McLean, Freehold ; Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D., Eliza- 
beth ; Cortlandt Parker, Newark; Charles L. Pearson, 
Trenton ; Stacy G. Potts, Trenton ; William P. Robeson, 
Belvidere ; Jonathan J. Spencer, M. D., Moorestown ; 
William A. Whitehead, Newark. - 

Of these original twenty members of the Society, the 
Hon. Cortlandt Parker, of Newark, is the sole surviv- 
or. Although he is to-day basking in the Italian sun- 
shine which irradiates Rome, that mother of history, we 
are sure that his heart is with us on this memorable occa- 
sion At a meeting of the Society held May 7, 1845, it 
was resolved that all desiring to join, should be enrolled 
as original members, and sixty-eight were added. Of 
these the only survivors at the present time are Cortlandt 
Parker, Newark ; William Paterson, Perth Amboy; Sam- 
uel H. Pennington, M. D., Newark, our venerable Presi- 
dent, whom we are so glad to have with us to-day; and 
John Whitehead, of Morristown, who has been one of the 

1 N. J. Hist. Proc, I., l--.'. 

2 [bid., 30. 



3 2 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



most active of the committee arranging for this celebra- 
tion. 

Although the youngest of your executive officers, 
so many have been the changes wrought by death in the 
last few years, that he who stands before you is now, 
with the exception of our President, the senior officer in 
point of service in your Society, and having been a mem- 
ber since 1874, I have been associated with most of the 
men who have officered the Society from its beginning. 

FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY. 

My recollection as a boy in Newark goes back to the time 
of the venerated ex-Chief Justice Joseph C. Hornblower, 
the first President of this Society, who continued in office 
for nearly twenty years, or until his death, on June 11, 
1864. His father, Josiah Hornblower, brought to this 
country and set up the first steam engine in America, and 
during the Revolution was at one time Speaker of the 
Assembly, which made him peculiarly obnoxious to the 
British and their Tory allies. He himself, born May 6, 
1777, the son of a Revolutionary sire, lived nearly thiough 
the period of our late War. As he walked the streets in 
those exciting days, men would look upon his feeble but 
venerable frame and say, with a thrill of admiring awe, 
" There goes a man who is older than the Flag." Coming 
from an historic ancestry, reaching back to the early gov- 
erning families of New Netherland and New Jersey, and 
being himself an epitome, as it were, of the history of our 
country during its first century, it seemed most natural 
that he should have taken the deep interest he always 
manifested in this Society, and that in his annual addresses 
as President the members were regularly favored with 
reminiscences from the rich stores of his experience. 

The eternal landscape of the past 





C^*^*^^*^f 




HISTORICAL WOKK IN NEW JERSEY. 33 

had for him a great attraction, and he loved to depict some 
of its more striking features to his hearers. 1 

I can recollect his successor, the patriarchal James 
Parker, of Perth Amboy, who, although nearly ninety 
years old, served us as President from January, 1865, until 
April 1, 1868. He, too, was from a long line of ances- 
tors closely identified with the history of New Jersey, from 
the time that Elisha Parker came, probably from Barnsta- 
ble, Mass., by way of Staten Island to Woodbridge, about 
1675, and subsequently (1694) was High Sheriff of Mid- 
dlesex, member of the Assembly (1707—9), and one of the 
Governor's Council. Elisha's son John was a Colonel of 
the Provincial forces, and was a member of the Council, 
1719—32. The latter also had a son John, who served with 
great distinction in the French wars, 1756—59. His broth- 
er James, grandson of Elisha, was a member of Governor 
Franklin's Council, 1764—75, so that three generations of 
the family in succession furnished Councillors for the Prov- 
ince. James was the father of James, born March 3, 1776, 
who was the second President of this Society. The sec- 
ond James was a member of the Legislature, 1806—14, 
1815-19, 1827-8, and of the National House of Represen- 
tatives, 1833—37. For more than twenty years he agitated 
the subject of the eastern boundary of New Jersey, and at 
last, as one of the commissioners appointed for the pur- 
pose, had the satisfaction of aiding in the adjustment of 
that vexatious controversy with New York, in 1833.'-' By 
descent and purchase he was one of the largest of the 
East Jersey Proprietors, and carefully preserving the mu- 

1 See Address on the Life and character of the Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower I.!.. 
]).. by the Hon. Richard S. Field, in X. J. Hist. So;-. Proc, X.. 25-45. 

Joseph Coerten Hornblower, 1777-1864, Chief Justice of New Jersey, L832-1846. 
A Biographical Sketch. By William Nelson. Cambridge Ala--.. 1894. 8vo. Pp. 
29. Reprinted from Vol. V. of the Memorial Biographie 
Historic « Genealogical Society. 

2 See '-A Brief History of the Boundary Disputes between New York and v« 
Jersey," by Hon. James Parker, X. J. Hist. Soc. Proc. VIII.. Li 



34 FIFTY YEARS OF 

niments of his title, as well as other papers that came to 
his hands as a public man, concerned in extensive and va- 
ried interests, he acquired a collection of historic material 
of priceless value. He was elected a Vice President of 
this Society at its formation, was a regular attendant upon 
its meetings, and frequently contributed to the discussions 
from his remarkable knowledge of the early days of our 
State. 1 

Then came the courtly and dignified Richard S. Field, 
Judge of the United States District Court of New Jersey, 
who occupied the chair as President from January, 1869, 
until May 25, 1870. On his father's side he traced his an- 
cestry back to Robert Field, who in 1644 came from Eng- 
land to Massachusetts, and in 1645 removed to Flushing, 
L. I., whence his grandson, John, migrated to New Jersey. 
John's great-grandson Robert, born April 5, 1775, mar- 
ried Abby, daughter of Richard Stockton, signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, and Annis Boudinot, his wife, 
sister of Elias Boudinot, the eminent statesman and phi- 
lanthropist, and of Elisha Boudinot, a Justice of the 
Supreme Court of New Jersey. Robert Field's son, born 
Dec. 31, 1803, was named Richard Stockton Field, after 
his famous maternal grandfather. He began the practice 
of the law at Salem, whence he removed in 1832 to Prince- 
ton, where he subsequently resided. He was elected to 
the Assembly in 1833 an( J 1834, and in 1838 was appointed 
Attorney General of the State, when only thirty-five years 
of age, holding the office until 1841, in which year he re- 
signed. He was one of the most influential members of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1844. In November, 
1862, he was appointed United States Senator, to fill a va- 
cancy for a few weeks, and on January 21, 1863, President 
Lincoln appointed him Judge of the United States District 

1 See Address on the Life and Character of the Hon. James Parker, by the Hon. 
Richard S. Field, in N. J. Hist. Soc. Proa, 2d Series. I.. 139-139 (January, 1869). 




JOHN RUTHERFURD 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEWJERSEV. 35 

Court for New Jersey, an office he retained until his death. 
Judge Field was one of the very few members of the New 
Jersey bar who have contributed to literature. 1 He was a 
man of scholarly tastes, chaste in diction and eloquent in 
delivery. He gave numerous addresses on legal topics, 
and upon various themes of a literary, historical or polit- 
ical nature, many of which have been published. He was 
elected one of the members of the Executive Committee 
of this Society, at its organization, serving as such 1845-46, 
1851-59, and Vice President, 1859-1869, or until his elec- 
tion as President. ~ 

In John Rutherfurd, the fourth President of the Society, 
there was a commingling of the blood of many families of 
distinction and influence in New Jersey. His paternal 
great-grandfather, Walter Rutherfurd, son of Sir John 
Rutherfurd, of Edgerston, Roxburghshire, Scotland, came 
to America in 1756, and was a Captain in the British ar- 
my in the French war, in 175 8—1 759. He married Catha- 
rine Alexander, daughter of James Alexander, and widow 
of Elisha Parker, of Perth Amboy, the uncle of James 
Parker, our second President. His son, John Rutherfurd. 
born Sept. 20, 1760, married Helena Morris, a great-grand- 
daughter of Gov. Lewis Morris, of New Jersey. He was 
elected to the United States Senate from New Jersey in 
1790, several months before he was constitutionally eligi- 
ble to take his seat. He resigned in 1798, devoting him- 
self thereafter to the care of his extensive landed estates 



1 The work by which he is best known is "The Provincial Courts of New Jer- 
sey, with Sketches of the Bench and Bar, a Discourse read before the New Jersey 
Historical Society." apart at the annual meeting, January 20, 1848, and the residue 
at the meeting on May 25, tsis. with Appendices embracing the Instructions to 
Lord Cornbury Nov. 16 1702; and several Ordinances establishing and regulating 
Courts of Judicature. 1702-1728, the whole forming an octavo of pp. xii. 311, known 
as "Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society." Volume III., printed in 
1849. 

2 An admirable memoir of Judge Field, by Anthony Q. Keasbey, was read be- 
fore the Society. January lit. 1871, and Ls published in the Proceedings, 2d Series. 
II.. 111-132. 



36 FIFTY YEARS OF 

in Warren, Sussex and the upper part of the present Pas- 
saic counties. He lived at Bellville, near Trenton, for some 
time, but subsequently built a spacious residence at a place 
which he called Edgerston, now the thriving borough of 
Rutherfurd, on the Erie Railroad, and there he died in 1840. 
After his death two of his daughters erected a mansion some 
distance south of Edgerston, on the east bank of the Pas- 
saic river, which is now the site of the New Jersey State 
Soldiers' Home. His only son, Robert Walter Rutherfurd, 
married Sabina Morris, whose grandfather. Col. Lewis 
Morris, was a grandson of Gov. Lewis Morris. Robert 
Walter Rutherfurd's son John was born July 21, 1810, at 
the residence of his maternal grandfather, Lewis Morris, 
at Morrisania, New York. His life was spent in the man- 
agement of his grandfather's estate, and his own large bus- 
iness concerns. He was President of the Board of East 
Jersey Proprietors for many years. By heredity and asso- 
ciation he was deeply interested in all that pertained to the 
history and the welfare of New Jersey. Many of our most 
valuable manuscripts relating to our earliest Colonial times, 
were presented by him or by his aunts, the Misses Mary 
and Louisa Rutherfurd. He joined this Society Novem- 
ber 6, 1845, and was elected one of the Vice Presidents, 
January 19, 1865. On the death of Judge Field he was 
elected President, in January, 1871, but died on November 
2 1st, following. 1 

Another honored New Jersey family was represented in 
the President's chair by the Rev. Ravaud Kearny Rod- 
gers, D. D., who, elected in January, 1872, continued in 
office for three years, when he declined a re-election, be- 
ing about to remove to Georgia, where he died January 12, 

1 Memoir of the Life and Character of John Rutherfurd. late President of the 
New Jersey Historical Society, by Robert S. Swords, in N. J. Hist. Soc. Proa. 2d 
Series, II. (January, 1872), 197 204. 

Family Records and Events, compiled principally from the original manuscripts 
in the Rutherfurd Collection, by Livingston Rutherfurd. New York. 1894. 




Rev. RAVAUD K. RODGHRS, D. D. 



HISTORICAL WORK IX NEW JERSEY. 37 

1879. He was born in New York city, November 3, 1797, 
the grandson of the Rev. John Rodgers, the noted and elo- 
quent patriot preacher of the Revolution. His mother was 
Susannah Ravaud Kearny, of Perth Amboy. Her father, 
Ravaud Kearny, a lawyer, married Ann, daughter of James 
Hude, a prominent citizen of New Brunswick. Her grand- 
father, Philip Kearny, an eminent lawyer, who died in 
1775, married Lady Barney Dexter, nee Ravaud. Philip 
was the son of Michael Kearny and Sarah Morris, said to 
have been a kinswoman 1 of Governor Lewis Morris. Dr. 
Rodgers was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Bound 
Brook in this State, from 1830 until October, 1874, when 
he resigned. He became a member of this Society in 
1846, served on the Executive Committee, 1852-69, and 
was Vice President, 1869- 1872. He was scholarly, eloquent 
and interesting in his frequent occasional remarks at the 
Society's meetings. 2 

In the selection of the sixth President there was a return 
to the judiciary, and it was felt that the Society was hon- 
ored when the choice fell upon Henry W. Green, the form- 
er Chief Justice, and then Chancellor of the State. He 
was descended from William Green, who came from Eng- 
land at the age of twenty, and settled in Ewing township, 
now part of Trenton, about 1700. He bought a tract of 
three hundred and forty-five acres, and erected a brick 
house, still standing, with the date, 171 7, plainly visible on 
the west end. His grandson, George Green, married a 
daughter of the Rev. Caleb Smith, a prominent Presby- 
terian divine, and died in 1777, at the early age of thirty- 

1 Mr. Whitehead says she was a daughter. She was perhaps Sarah Morris, bora 
16th of 12th month. 1693. daughter of Redroe Morris and Jael Baty, ol Elsinboro. 
Redroe Morris was horn aboul 1658, in Wales, sun of Lewis Morris, and emigrated 
to America, landing at Philadelphia in the 9th month. 1683. The grandfather of 
Gov. Lewis Morris was from Monmouthshire, and ii is quite probable that the 
Governor was a near kinsman of Redroe Morris. 

2 Memoir of Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, D. D., by George Sheldon, I). D.. in X. .1. 
Hist. Soc. Proc, 2d Series, VI. , 17-25 (May. 1880); Whiteheads Perth Amboy, 90. 



3S FIFTY YEARS OF 

nine years. Caleb Smith Green was the father of John 
Cleve Green, one of New York's merchant princes, whose 
benefactions have done so much for Princeton University, 
and of Henry Woodhull Green, born at Lawrenceville, 
September 20, 1804. The latter was Chief Justice of New 
Jersey, 1 846-1 860, and was then appointed Chancellor. 
He filled both positions with distinguished ability. It was 
a source of profound regret to bench and bar when ill 
health compelled his retirement in 1866. He married a 
daughter of Chief Justice Ewing. He was a trustee of 
Princeton College, 1850-1876, and a generous benefactor 
of his alma mater, as have been all his family. He was 
one of the original members of this Society; served as a 
member of the Executive Committee, 1 851 — 1862, as Vice 
President, 1862— 1875, and in January, 1875, was elected 
President. He was a frequent attendant upon the meet- 
ings, and in his discussions of the topics presented, showed 
not only his interest, but that he had diligently searched 
our original records for knowledge. His infirm health con- 
strained him to decline a re-election in 1876. He died at 
Trenton, December 19, 1876. The Executive Committee, 
in announcing his death to the Society, remarked: 

By birth a Jerseyman, Mr. Green received his early training in the educational 
institutions of his native State, and spent his whole life, professional and official, in 
her service; and it may be affirmed with justice that none of her sons has more 
worthily or with greater distinction, advanced her annals, or labored more assid- 
uously to promote the enterprises that have served to advance her prosperity and 
elevate the moral condition of her population. Her noble works of philanthropy 
found in him a friend and advocate: and her higher institutions of learning will 
cherish in grateful remembrance his counsels and efforts, as among the most ef- 
fective agencies to which are due their enlarged facilities and their present de- 
servedly high reputation. 

Of the bench and bar of New Jersey he was a distinguished ornament. To an 
intellect of rare capacity, a temperament that prompted to the intent application 
of his mental powers to the work before him, a conscientious sense of the require- 
ments of duty to his clients and the public, he added the results of careful culture, 
exhaustive research and profound thought: qualities which, united with a fluent 
and impressive diction, made him eminently successful in his earlier forensic ef- 
forts, and were even more conspicuous in those opinions and decisions from the 
seats of judicial authority— models of righteous judgment, varied learning and 
stern logic, expressed in language purr, terse and forcible— that have secured him 
an exalted rank among the jurists of the State and country, i 

1 Proceedings N. J. Hist. Soc. 2d Series, IV., 168. (January, 1877). 




Rev. SAMUEL M. HAMILL, D. D. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 39 

The Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, D. D., was elected Presi- 
dent in January, 1876. He was born at Norristown, Pa., 
July 6, 1 S 1 2, the son of Robert Hamill, who came from 
Ireland in 1797, and married a daughter of Andrew Todd, 
a soldier in the Revolution. Graduating from Jefferson 
College in 1834, Dr. Hamill became a teacher in the Law- 
renceville school the same year. A few years later the 
school came under his exclusive control, and was devel- 
oped into one of the most famous preparatory institutions 
in the country. He was deeply interested in the cause of 
popular education, sparing neither time, nor pen, nor voice 
in the effort toward improving the public school system of 
the State. At an educational convention held in Trenton 
in January, 1845, the suggestion was made that a State 
Historical Society should be formed, and Dr. Hamill was 
one of the leading spirits at the meeting held for that pur- 
pose in Trenton on January 18, 1845, and was subsequent- 
ly enrolled as one of the original members. He was elect- 
ed to the Executive Committee in 1863, serving thereon 
until his promotion to the Vice Presidency, in 1871, which 
office he filled for five years. For thirteen years he pre- 
sided with distinguished ability, and his courtly and urbane 
manner did much to make our meetings popular and in- 
teresting. His sudden and unexpected death, on Septem- 
ber 21, 1889, was a profound shock to his wide circle of 
friends. 1 It was his custom at the opening of each meeting 
of the Society to make a few remarks, alluding to some 
topic of historic interest, frequently from his own experi- 
ence, or which he had heard from those of an earlier gener- 
ation, and these informal "talks" were always a pleasant 
feature of the Society's gatherings. "With a rare combi- 
nation of dignity and suavity, an unfailing urbanity, the 
faculty of always saying and doing the right thing at the 

1 Rev. Samuel McClintock Hamill. l>. D. Memoir prepared and read by the Rev. 
Samuel M. Studdiford, D. D.. before the New Jersey Historical Society. January 
38, 1890.— Proc,, 3d Series, XL, 37-38. 



4° 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



right time, with a remarkably graceful art of ' putting 
things,' with an enthusiastic love for New Jersey, and a 
pride in her history, he was a great help to the Society." 1 

It has been the custom of this Society, from the begin- 
ning, to promote the senior Vice President whenever a va- 
cancy occurs in the Presidential chair. It thus happened 
that James Parker, the third President, and John Ruther- 
furd, the fifth President of this Society, were very strongly 
identified with the East Jersey Proprietary interest. Upon 
the death of Dr. Hamill the senior Vice President, the 
Hon. John Clement, was elected President, in January, 1 890, 
and for the first time the Society had as its presiding offi- 
cer one who was closely identified with West Jersey history. 
Gregory Clement, his ancestor, was returned to Parliament 
about 1646, was one of the commissioners who tried and 
condemned Charles I., in January, 1648—9, and was one of 
the six regicides who were executed at the restoration, in 
1660. His son James emigrated to America in 1670, set- 
tling at Flushing, L. I., where he died in 1724. Five of 
James's children removed to Gloucester county, New Jer- 
sey, about 1700, one of them, Jacob, a shoemaker, locating 
at Gloucester. His son, Jacob, a tanner, settled in Had- 
donfield in 1743, where he purchased a tract of land on 
which our late President, his descendant, resided. He was 
the father of Nathaniel Clement, whose son John, born 
Sept. 10, 1769, was a surveyor and conveyancer, a militia 
officer, 1798-1844, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, 
and serving in the War of 1 812. He was a member of the 
Council of West Jersey Proprietors, and was President of 
that body, 1832-51, when he resigned. He died July 4, 
1855. His son, John Clement, was born at Haddonfield, 
November 8, 1818. He succeeded his father in 1 85 1 as a 
member of the Council of Proprietors of West Jersey, be- 
coming President in 1885. The West Jersey Surveyors' 

1 Report of the Executive Committee. Proceedings. 2d Series. XL, 7. 




fitter /&4/u#dr /e~ 



*- 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 41 

Association, organized in 1864, found in him one of its 
warmest originators and friends, and he contributed to its 
meetings a number of papers on West Jersey history, partic- 
ularly on the complicated land titles of that division. Join- 
ing this Society in 1 864, his value as a member was immedi- 
ately recognized by his election to the Executive Committee 
in 1865, from which he was transferred in 1876 to the Vice 
Presidency, and thence, in January, 1890, to the Presiden- 
cy. This position he held until January, 1894, when he 
declined a re-election, owing to advancing years, and the 
inconvenience of regularly attending the meetings. He had 
been one of the Common Pleas Judges of Camden County, 
1854-64, and in the latter year was appointed one of the 
Lay Judges of the Court of Errors and Appeals, where his 
familiarity with West Jersey land titles made him so useful a 
member that he was regularly re-appointed, holding the 
office for thirty years. He was the author of many valu- 
able contributions to the history of the State, the most 
notable being his " Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers 
in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West Jer 
sey," compiled almost entirely from original sources, and 
displaying much literary ability. Judge Clement was 
modest almost to shyness, and in his intercourse with 
others manifested much of the characteristic simplicity of 
manner of his remoter ancestors of the Friends' persuasion. 
He presided with grace and dignity over such of the So- 
ciety's meetings as he was able to attend. He died at Had- 
donfield, August 15, 1894. ' 

Although the Society has had its library and cabinet in 
the city of Newark from the beginning of its existence, it 

1 Printed at Camden, 1877. 8vo. Pp. 44-'. (2). 

- For notices of his ancestry see his "First Settlers of Newton Township." 
•Jti?--.';*): and History of Camden County. Philadelphia, 1886,213. An obituary no- 
tice of Judge Clement was published in the Penn. Mag. of History and B 
phy, XVIII.. 382 He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
and a frequent contributor to its Magazine and to its library. 



42 FIFTY YEARS OF 

was not until January, 1894, on the retirement of Judge 
Clement from the Presidency, that a native of Newark was 
called to the chair, when Samuel H. Pennington, M. D., 
LL. D., the senior Vice President, was elected President. 
He is a descendant of Ephraim Pennington, one of the 
freemen of New Haven in 1643, whose sons, Ephraim and 
Judah, were among the original settlers of Newark, in 1666. 
One of Judah's descendants, also named Judah, married 
Mary Sandford, who was a great-granddaughter of Major 
William Sandford, and of Major John Berry, the former 
being one of the settlers of New Barbadoes Neck, Bergen 
county, a member of the Governor's Council, 1683-6, At- 
torney-General, Judge, etc., and the latter being also of 
the Governor's Council, and Deputy Governor during Gov- 
ernor Philip Carteret's absence in England. From this 
marriage there came Samuel, born 1765, died 1835, who 
was the father of Dr. Pennington ; and William S. Pen- 
nington, a Lieutenant of Artillery in the Revolution, after- 
wards Governor and Chancellor of New Jersey, and who 
was the father of Governor William Pennington. Dr. Pen- 
nington, son of Samuel Pennington, was born in Newark, 
October 16, 1806, and graduated at Princeton College in 
the Class of 3825. It is a pleasant circumstance that 
Princeton's two oldest graduates are to-day on this plat- 
form, expressing their deep interest in the welfare of this 
kindred institution. 1 Dr. Pennington received his diploma 
as M. D. in 1829, and practiced his profession for many 
years in the city of Newark, but gradually withdrew from 
active practice, and for more than thirty years has devoted 
his energies to the Newark City National Bank, as Presi- 

1 William C. Wallace, born July 4, 1804. graduated from Princeton in 1823. He 
has been a resident of Newark for ninety years, and at the urgent special request 
of the Committee on Invitations, came to the semi-centennial celebration of the 
Society, and occupied a seat on the platform. He has been one of the warmest and 
most generous friends of the Society. There is a suggestion of humor in Mr. Wal- 
lace's statement that he retired from active business more than sixty years ago, 
on account of his health! 



J*-* 





Historical work in new jersey. 43 

dent. He has been one of the Trustees of the College and 
of the Theological Seminary at Princeton for forty years, 
being Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Col- 
lege most of that period. For seventeen years he served 
as a member of the Board of Education of Newark, being 
repeatedly elected by the people, and during several years 
was President of the Board. Identified by birth and an- 
cestry with the history of our State, and of its metropolis, 
it was but natural that he should have become a member 
of this Society at its inception, and that his abilities and 
influence should have been recognized by his election to 
serve on the Executive Committee in 1862, whence he was 
transferred, in 1871, to the Vice Presidency. Those who 
have had the pleasure of hearing or reading Dr. Penning- 
ton's occasional addresses have often regretted that he has 
not favored this Society with more frequent contributions 
from his pen, his style being pure, forcible and eloquent. 
Although partially disabled by an accident two or three 
years ago, which few would have survived, as he sits here 
to-day, presiding over this great gathering, who wou'd im- 
agine for a moment that almost eighty-nine years have 
passed over that stalwart, rugged frame, that leonine head, 
crowned with masses of iron grey — not white — hair, that 
keen eye, that nervous manner, betokening a quick percep- 
tion of everything that is passing, that commanding, ma- 
jestic mien? Long may he be spared to this Society, to this 
community and to this State, to each of which he has been 
such an honor I 1 

SOME VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Some mention should be made of those Vice Presidents 

1 Since the delivery of this address, Dr. Pennington, on account of the physical 
disability referred to. declined a re-election to the Presidency at the annual meet- 
ing of the Society, in January, 1896, and < l-eneral William S. si ryker « as elected to 
succeed him. At this writing (January, 1898), Dr. Pennington continues active in 
the performance of his duties as President of the bank with which he has been 
identified for so many years, although he passed his ninety-first birthday several 
months ago. 



44 FIFTY YEARS OF 

of the Society who did not succeed to the Presidency, for 
among them were a number of our most eminent citizens, 
and several of the most generous contributors to the ob- 
jects which we have in view. 

Robert Gibbon Johnson was a great-grandson of Rich- 
ard Johnson, who came from Surrey, in England, in the 
ship "Joseph and Benjamin," and landed at Elsinboro, 
March 13, 1675. He acquired a large tract of land at Salem 
from John Fenwick, and married there, 25th of 6th month, 
1682, Mary Grover. He died first month, 17 19, aged sev- 
enty years. His grandson, Robert, married for his second 
wife Jane, daughter of Nicholas and Ann (Grant) Gibbon. 
She was a granddaughter of Richard Johnson, and was the 
widow of Samuel Fenwick Hedge, a great-grandson of 
John Fenwick, Chief Proprietor of Salem. Robert Gibbon 
Johnson, their son, was born near Salem, July 23, 1 77 1 . 
He graduated from Princeton in 1790. In 1794 he was 
appointed paymaster of New Jersey troops under Gen. Jo- 
seph Bloomfield, who were sent to Pennsylvania to crush 
the Whiskey Rebellion. In 1796 he was commissioned 
Captain of a troop of horse ; was appointed Major in 1798, 
Lieutenant Colonel of cavalry in 1809, and Colonel in 1817. 
He was elected to the Legislature in 1825, and in 1833 
was appointed Judge of the Salem County Courts. Re- 
ligion and education found in him a constant friend, not 
only in his own community but in broader spheres of ac- 
tion. The history of Salem and of West Jersey had a fas- 
cination for him, which it never lost. His valuable little 
book on Salem, published in 1839, was supplemented by 
various contributions which he made to the Proceedings of 
this Society, and we are especially indebted to him for a 
number of manuscripts of priceless value, among them a 
contemporaneous copy of the Grants and Concessions of 
Berkeley and Carteret to the inhabitants of New Jersey, in 
February, 1664-5, engrossed on a parchment roll eight or 



""*>'•%-: 




^ 



^"^^ 



Historical Work in new jersey. 45 

nine feet long, 1 a number of papers of John Fenvvick, sev- 
eral deeds for an interest in West Jersey, extracts from Sa- 
lem records, and translations of Swedish papers. Col. 
Johnson was elected Vice President of this Society in 1845, 
and was still in office when he died, October 2, 1850. 

The second of the three Vice Presidents elected at the 
organization of the Society, in 1845, was Peter D. Vroom, 
of Somerset county. He was of Dutch stock, tracing his 
ancestry back to Cornells Pieterse Vroom, of New Amster- 
dam, who died prior to 1657. His son, Hendrick Corsen 
Vroom, baptized Nov. 30, 1653, in New Amsterdam, was 
of Brooklyn in 1683 and 1693, but later settled on the Rar- 
itan, near New Brunswick. One of his descendants, Peter 
D. Vroom, born Jan. 27, 1745, was appointed Lieutenant 
Colonel of State troops by the Provincial Congress of New 
Jersey, and subsequently was one of the most honored and 
influential men in the county. He died in November, 1831. 
His son, Peter D. Vroom, was born Dec. 12, 1791 ; grad- 
uated at Columbia College in 1808, and was admitted to 
the New Jersey bar in 181 3. He was elected to the As- 
sembly from Somerset county in 1826, 1827 and 1829; 
was chosen Governor in 1829, 1830, 1831, 1833, 1834 and 
1835, but in the last-named year declined on account of 
impaired health. In 1838 he was elected to Congress. 
He was appointed Chief Justice of New Jersey in 1853, but 
declined the office, accepting instead the mission to the 
Court of Prussia, where he represented this country until 
1857. He was a gentleman of the highest character, of 
marked ability, and exerted a great influence in the State. 
He served us as Vice President from 1845 until 1851, when 
he declined a re-election. Governor Vroom died Novem- 
ber 18, 1874. 

i The original was destroyed by tire at Perth Amboy. on Saturday, April 10, 
1686. See N. J. Archives. XIII.. L52. 



Historical work in new jersey. 45 

nine feet long, 1 a number of papers of John Fenwick, sev- 
eral deeds for an interest in West Jersey, extracts from Sa- 
lem records, and translations of Swedish papers. Col. 
Johnson was elected Vice President of this Society in 1845, 
and was still in office when he died, October 2, 1850. 

The second of the three Vice Presidents elected at the 
organization of the Society, in 1845, was Peter D. Vroom, 
of Somerset county. He was of Dutch stock, tracing his 
ancestry back to Cornelis Pieterse Vroom, of New Amster- 
dam, who died prior to 1657. His son, Hendrick Corsen 
Vroom, baptized Nov. 30, 1653, in New Amsterdam, was 
of Brooklyn in 1683 and 1693, but later settled on the Rar- 
itan, near New Brunswick. One of his descendants, Peter 
D. Vroom, born Jan. 27, 1745, was appointed Lieutenant 
Colonel of State troops by the Provincial Congress of New 
Jersey, and subsequently was one of the most honored and 
influential men in the county. He died in November, 1 83 1 . 
His son, Peter D. Vroom, was born Dec. 12, 1 79 1 ; grad- 
uated at Columbia College in 1808, and was admitted to 
the New Jersey bar in 1813. He was elected to the As- 
sembly from Somerset county in 1826, 1827 and 1829; 
was chosen Governor in 1829, 1830, 1831, 1S33, 1834 and 
1835, but in the last-named year declined on account of 
impaired health. In 1838 he was elected to Congress. 
He was appointed Chief Justice of New Jersey in 1853, but 
declined the office, accepting instead the mission to the 
Court of Prussia, where he represented this country until 
1857. He was a gentleman of the highest character, of 
marked ability, and exerted a great influence in the State. 
He served us as Vice President from 1845 until 1851, when 
he declined a re-election. Governor Vroom died Novem- 
ber 18, 1874. 

i The original was destroyed by fire at Perth Amboy, on Saturday, April 10, 
1686. See N. J. Archives. XIII.. 152. 



46 FIFTY YEARS OF 

Stacy Gardiner Potts was a descendant of some of the 
first settlers of Trenton, but his grandfather having re- 
moved to Harrisburg, Pa., the son was born there, in No- 
vember, 1799. He returned to Trenton with his father in 
i8c8, became interested in local journalism, and then in the 
law. He was Clerk in Chancery, 1 83 1 — 1841 1 and a Justice 
of the Supreme Court, 1852-1859. He presided at the 
meeting at which this Society was formed, was a member 
of the Executive Committee, 1847— 1850, and one of the 
Vice Presidents, 1851-1857. He died at Trenton, April 
9, 1865. 

James Gore King, third son of Rufus King, New York's 
eminent statesman, was born in New York city, May 8, 
1 791 ; he graduated at Harvard in 18 10, and five years later 
established the banking house of James G. King & Co., 
subsequently James G. King & Sons. Having been a resi- 
dent of Weehawken many years, he joined this Society May 
7, 1845, and took an active, intelligent interest in its affairs. 
It was largely through his generosity that the Society was 
able to procure the material for and to publish the third 
and fifth volumes of its Collections, and he took the lead 
in 1852 in advocating and contributing toward the pur- 
chase of a site for a fire-proof building for the Society's 
library. He was a Vice President in 185 1-2—3. He was 
elected to Congress in 1848. His death occurred at Wee- 
hawken, October 3, 1853. 

When William Alexander Duer removed from New York 
city, on retiring from the Presidency of Columbia College, 
in 1842, and took up his residence at Morristown, the 



1 At the January Term. 1841. the Chancellor appointed Henry W. Green. James 
Ewing and Stacy G. Potts a committee to revise the rules of the Court, which they 
did. and at the April Term the revised rules were reported, approved and adopted. 
They were printed, with copious notes and citations, together with '•Precedents 
and Notes of Practice in the Court of Chancery of New Jersey," Trenton, 1841. 
12mo. Pp.240. A revised edition was issued in 1872. "Potts's Precedents" was a 
standard hand-book for every New Jersey lawyer for nearly forty years— a signal 
evidence of the thoroughness with which it was prepared, 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 47 

State of New Jersey felt that it had made a distinct acqui- 
sition. Judge Duer was connected with New Jersey histo- 
ry and progress by many ties His father, William Duer, 
a prominent financier and statesman in the eighteenth cen- 
tury, married " Lady Kitty," the charming daughter of 
William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling, who was a Major 
General in the American army in the Revolution, and 
whose hospitable home at Baskinridge, New Jersey, was the 
resort of the most distinguished and delightful people of 
the clay. Lord Stirling was the son of James Alexander, 
one of the most influential men of his time in the political 
affairs of New Jersey and New York. William Duer was 
the first Governor of the Society for Establishing Useful 
Manufactures, which founded the town of Paterson in this 
State. His son, William Alexander, was born Sept. 8, 
1780, at Rhinebeck, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar of 
that State in 1802, and was a Judge of the Supreme Court, 
182 2- 1 829, and President of Columbia College, 1 829-1 842. 
His lectures on " Outlines of the Constitutional Jurispru- 
dence of the United States," published in 1833, and in a 
second edition in 1856, are still regarded with favor. His 
membership in this Society dated back to May 7, 1845. 
He was constant in his attendance, frequently presided at 
its meetings, took a lively interest in all that pertained to 
its welfare, and prepared for publication the second volume 
of our Collections, the Life of Lord Stirling, his grand- 
father. He was Vice President from 1854 until his death, 
in New York, May 30, 1858. 

Another eminent Jerseyman of National reputation who 
gave us of his time and his eminent abilities, was William 
Lewis Dayton, who joined this Society November 5, 1845, 
served on the Executive Committee, 1852— 1857, and as 
Vice President, 1 858—1 864. He was born in Somerset 
county, February 17, 1 807, the great-grandson of Jonathan 
Dayton, one of the early settlers of Elizabethtown, and on 



48 FIFTY YEARS OF 

his mother's side was a great-grandson of William Lewis, 
of Baskinridge, who served as commissary through the 
Revolutionary War. Mr, Dayton graduated from Prince- 
ton in 1825, and being admitted to the bar began practice 
at Freehold, Monmouth county. He was elected to the 
Legislative CounciPfrom that county in 1837, and in the 
succeeding February was elected by the Legislature to the 
office of Justice of the Supreme Court, but resigned three 
years later. In 1842 he was appointed United States Sen- 
ator, and continued in the Senate until 185 1. The newly- 
formed Republican party nominated him for Vice Presi- 
dent with Gen. John C. Fremont, in 1856. In 1857 Gov- 
ernor Olden appointed him Attorney General, which office 
he retained until President Lincoln sent him to France as 
United States Minister to that country. He died at Paris, 
December I, 1864. Senator Dayton was one of the most 
popular men in the State, and filled the numerous positions 
for which he was selected with signal ability. 1 

William Burnet Kinney, who joined this Society the day 
it was organized, was a descendant of Sir Thomas Kinney, 
an English baronet. His father, Abraham Kinney, became 
interested in some mining property, and settled at Speed- 
well, Morris county, where his son was born, Sept. 4, 1799. 
His mother was a daughter of Dr. William Burnet, of New- 
ark, a descendant of Dan Burnet, one of the early settlers of 
Elizabethtown. The Doctor was a Surgeon in the Continen- 
tal army during the Revolution ; one of his grand-daughters 
married Chief Justice Hornblower, and another was the wife 
of Gov. William Pennington. Mr. Kinney studied law with 
the Chief Justice, his kinsman, but in 1820 drifted into jour- 
nalism, and after various experiences became editor of the 

' See "A Memorial of the Life and Character of Hon. William L. Dayton, Late 
U. S. Minister in France," by Joseph P. Bradley, prepared at the request of the 
Society, and partially read at the meeting of May 18, 1865. It was published sev- 
eral year.'; later in the proceedings, 2d Series. IV.. 70-118. Judge Elmer, in his 
••Reminisoencos'" (N. J. Hist. S<u\ Coll. VII.). gives soms interesting glimpses of 
Dayton as a Judge. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 49 

Newark Daily Advertiser, in 1833, it being then the only 
daily newspaper in the State. He was a writer of much force 
and purity of style, and soon made his paper the leading 
journal of New Jersey. In 185 1 he was appointed United 
States Minister to Sardinia, and upon the expiration of his 
term removed from Turin to Florence, where he remained 
until 1S64 or 1865, when he returned to America, taking 
up his residence at Morristown, and afterwards at Summit. 
He was a member of the Executive Committee of this So- 
ciety, 1847-1851, bnd again, after his return to America, 
during the years 1 866-1 871. He was elected Vice Presi- 
dent in 1872, but declined a re-election in 1877, on ac- 
count of ill health, and was again placed on the Executive 
Committee in that year, where he remained until his death, 
October 21, 1880. He read a paper " On the establish- 
ment and progress of Printing and the Periodical Press of 
New Jersey," at the meeting of the Society at Salem, in 
1846, and again at Trenton, in 1849, and delivered the 
commemorative oration at the Bi-Centennial of Newark, 
May 17, 1866. He was for several years a valued mem- 
ber of the Committees on Publications, and on Library. 1 

The value of business men in such an organization as 
this, was illustrated in the case of Peter S. Duryee, one of 
Newark's most successful and prominent manufacturers. 
Coming himself from an historic ancestry — Joost Durie, 
who came to America about 1675, an< ^ whose descendants 
intermarried with the Dutch and Huguenot families of New 
York and Long Island — he was an enthusiastic friend of 
this Society, which he joined in 1847. He was born in 
New York city, December 23, 1807, but in 182 1 removed 
to Newark, with whose every interest — economic, social, 
moral, religious and educational — he was thenceforth 
warmly identified. By precept and by example he strongly 

1 For an obituary tribute to Mr. Kinney, by the Executive Committee, see Pro 
ceedings, 2d Series, VI., 114-116. 

7 



5o 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



urged his fellow citizens of Newark to furnish the means to 
secure a fire-proof building for the Society. He was a 
member of the committee appointed for that purpose, 1 was 
also on the Executive Committee, 1858-1863, 1869-1874, 
and was a Vice President, 1875-1877. He had a delight- 
fully enthusiastic and breezy way of expressing his views 
on the various subjects that came up for consideration, and 
it was felt that the Society had sustained a serious loss 
when he was taken from us, on September 23, 1877." 

Another of the Vice Presidents whom it was my privi- 
lege to know very well was the Hon. John T. Nixon, Judge 
of the United States District Court of New Jersey. He 
was born at Fairton, Cumberland county, August 3, 1820, 
practiced law there for several years, was elected to the 
Legislature in 1849 and 1850, and in 185 1 married a 
daughter of the Hon. Lucius O. C. Elmer, for some years 
a Justice of the Supreme Court of this State. In 1855 
Mr. Nixon published a new edition of that work so indis- 
pensable in its day to every lawyer of New Jersey — known 
thenceforth as Nixon's Digest, based on a similar work 
published by Judge Elmer in 1838. 3 Mr. Nixon's work 
was so excellent that it passed through three editions, 4 its 

1 It is an interesting coincidence that one of his sons— Edward H. Durvee— is 
(January. 1898) a Life Member of this Society, is a Trustee of the Free Public Li- 
brary of Newark, and is a Director of the Newark Library Association, and in the 
latter capacity is on a joint committee of that Association and of this Society, 
having tor its purpose the promotion of the object for which his father worked so 
energetically in his lifetime. 

2 A notice of the death of Mr. Duryee is printed in the Proceedings. 26. Series, 
V.. -17-ts. 

3 A Digest of the Laws of New Jersey. Containing also the Constitutions of the 
United States, and of this State, and the Rules and Decisions of the Courts. By 
Lucius Q. C. Elmer. Bridgeton: Published by James H. Newell, 1838. 8vo. Pp. 
xxrv, 728. 

4 The same. Second edition, containing all the laws of general application, now 
in force, from 1709 to 1855, inclusive, with the rules and decisions of the courts. By 
John T. Nixon. Published under the patronage of the Legislature. Philadelphia: 
1855. 8vo. Pp. XXXII, !>84. 

The same. Third edition. Bridgeton: Elmer & Nixon. 1861. 8vo. Pp. xxxn, 
KK lit. 

The same, Fourth edition. Newark: 1868. 8vo. Pp. xxxn, 1152. 




WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 5 I 

vogue continuing until it was supplanted by the Revision 
of 1877. In 1858 he was elected to Congress, where he 
was largely instrumental in bringing about the election of 
ex-Governor William Pennington, of New Jersey, to the 
Speakership, the peculiarly complicated circumstances at- 
tending which event he subsequently related in a paper of 
absorbing interest, which he read before this Society in 
1873. 1 He was appointed Judge of the United States Dis- 
trict Court in May, 1870. Becoming a member of this 
Society, May 15, 1873. he was elected Vice President in 
1877, and thereafter was a regular attendant upon its ses- 
sions, and always had an appropriate word to say. He 
was a Trustee of Princeton College from 1864. "Amidst 
the burdens of official duty he was ever ready to render 
service in the church, the college and other institutions of 
the State, and his zeal in these good works was all accord- 
ing to knowledge." 3 He died September 28, 1889. 

THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. 

What can I say of William Adee Whitehead, who, for 
nearly forty years, was regarded as practically the Society? 
His father, William Whitehead, was cashier of the Newark 
Banking and Insurance Company, which in his day occu- 
pied a brick building on the northwest corner of Broad and 
Bank streets, Mr. Whitehead living upstairs, and here, on 
February 19, 18 to, his son was born. His mother was 
Abby, daughter of Benjamin Coe, a descendant of Robert 
Coe, who came from England in 1634, and after living in 
New England took up his residence at Jamaica, L. I , 
whence one of his descendants, Benjamin Coe, removed to 
Newark, some time before 1732. In April, 1823, Mr. 
Whitehead went to Perth Amboy to take charge of a bank 

1 Proceedings. 2d Scries, n.. 205-220. 

2 John T. Nixon. Memoir prepared and read by A <*>. Keasbey, before the New 
Jersey Historical Society, at its annual meeting in Trenton, January 28th, 1890. 
8vo. Pp. 13. Reprinted from Proceedings, 2d Scries. XL. 39-51. 



52 FIFTY YEARS OF 

there. His son's schooling was ended when he left New- 
ark, but the boy of thirteen went on with his studies, in 
literature, mathematics, surveying, drawing and other con- 
genial lines, until his mind became a well-filled storehouse 
of knowledge. In 1828 he went to Key West, Fla , where 
he spent most of the ensuing ten years, made a survey and 
map of the town, was appointed Collector of the Port before 
he was twenty-one, was elected Alderman and then Mayor. 
He was in business in New York, 1838- 1843, but I fancy 
that the treasures in the Historical Society's library had 
for him greater attractions than the more material wealth 
usually sought for in Wall street, for after — and I suspect 
occasionally during — business hours he pored over the old 
newspaper files and manuscripts there, and made those 
copious notes which he drew upon for forty years as from 
a never-failing spring of information. At Perth Amboy he 
had married, August 11, 1834, Margaret Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of James Parker, and he had long been familiar with the 
records of the East Jersey Proprietors there, as well as 
with Mr. Parker's extensive collection of manuscripts and 
other historical material, and had also diligently collected 
whatever information could be gleaned from church and 
family records, and by personal interviews with the oldest 
residents of that former capital of East Jersey. And thus 
there was no one so well equipped as he to write accurately, 
intelligently and minutely regarding " the days of old " in 
New Jersey, and especially in the Eastern Division. His 
familiarity with the official records of our State also gave 
him knowledge of the woful gaps therein. At the same 
time his connection with the New York Historical Society 
caused him to be informed as to the steps taken by that 
Society in 1838 to secure for our sister State what it re- 
quired from foreign archives to complete its own records. 
Hence the persistence with which he repeatedly urged upon 
our Legislature the importance of cooperating with New 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 53 

York in this movement, as I have already related. Who 
that read those articles in the Newark Daily Advertiser, 
about 1842, could have imagined that the curtain raised 
upon the "Glimpses of the Past" was drawn by a young 
man of thirty-two, who by his extraordinary knowledge of 
the men and events of nearly two centuries before was able 
to make them all like living realities? From the time that 
he took up his residence again in Newark, in 1843, ne was 
engaged in business until 1879, when he permanently re- 
tired. There is no doubt that even while in New York he 
had been impressed with the desirability of a New Jersey 
Historical Society, and when this Society was formed he 
seemed, by common consent, just the man for Correspond- 
ing Secretary. Examine the first twenty volumes of our 
Proceedings, and you cannot but be impressed with the 
gentle but strong personality of Mr. Whitehead through 
them all. The numerous papers which he read, the enor- 
mous correspondence conducted by him, the reports and 
the resolutions which bear traces of his suggestion and 
nearly always of his pen, the plans he was continually mak- 
ing for the Society's welfare — all go to show now near to 
his heart was this institution which be had nursed from its 
birth into a vigorous maturity. The tact and assiduity 
with which he collected money, manuscripts, books, por- 
traits and relics for its library can never be told, for he was 
the last person to speak of them. But our priceless col- 
lection of rarities, so largely the result of his efforts, speaks 
for him. Although he quit school at thirteen, he never 
" finished his education." That went on while he lived. 
He was an ardent, unceasing student. The history of "East 
Jersey under the Proprietary Governments," which he per- 
mitted the Society to publish (in 1846) as the first volume 
of its Collections, gave him an established reputation as a 
painstaking, accurate historian, and there is a perennial 
charm in the delightful pictures he gives us of the old-time 



54 FIFTY YEARS OF 

social life in New Jersey, in his "Contributions to the Early 
History of Perth Amboy and Adjoining Country, with 
Sketches of Men and Events in New Jersey, during the 
Provincial Era." 1 While his fame will rest mainly upon 
these tvvo works, he himself attached more importance to 
the project of securing the material for and publishing the 
series of volumes known as the " New Jersey Archives." 
When at last, after nearly forty years of endeavor on his 
part, the manuscript was in hand and the funds (appropri- 
ated by the Legislature) were available for the printing, 
his happiness knew no bounds. The dream of a lifetime 
was at last to be realized. It is pleasant to know that he 
lived to see seven volumes of the Archives published, and 
that he had arranged the material for printing three more 
volumes, ere he was called away. Mr. Whitehead's zeal 
in the collection and dissemination of knowledge was not 
confined to this Society. He was one of the founders of 
the Newark Library Association, in 1847, and was at first 
its Secretary, and then, for thirty-three years, its President, 
until his death. He served as a member of the Board of 
Education of Newark, 1861-1871, and was a Trustee of 
the State Normal School, 1862— 1884. It was an interest- 
ing coincidence that during the last twenty years of his life 
his leisure hours were passed in congenial pursuits in the 
rooms of the Society, on the site of the building in which 
he was born. His health failed gradually for several years, 
and at last, on August 8, 1884, at Perth Amboy, which 
was so endeared to him by youthful memories, he passed 
away, and three days later, on what would have been his 
"golden wedding day," he was buried in the beautiful 
churchyard of St. Peter's, where he had so often wandered, 
with note-book or sketch-book, in his boyhood. My ear- 
liest recollection of Mr. Whitehead dates back to my 

1 New York. 1856. 8vo. Pp. viii. 428. 




STEPHEN WICKES, M. D. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. ^5 

school days in Newark, when he, as a member of the Board 
of Education, visited the High School. It was upon his 
nomination that I was elected a member of this Society, in 
1872, and was made Recording Secretary in 1880. He 
honored me with frequent consultations regarding the af- 
fairs of the Society. The more I saw of him the more did 
he grow in my regard, and his death came to me with the 
sense of a personal bereavement. "He was one of the 
finest looking men in the city. More than six feet high 
and well proportioned, he was a model of physical and 
manly beauty. . . Without the appearance of an ath- 
lete, he filled the eye as perfect in stature, development, 
dignity and power. . . If his bearing had more of dig- 
nity than was suited to a character so unaffected as his, 
the impression passed away when he gave his opinion or 
joined in common conversation. Levity was out of place 
in his intercourse with his friends. But cheerfulness was 
habitual — it adorned his character, and gave a charm to his 
life. Genius has been neatly defined as an infinite capacity 
for taking pains. In this he was a genius, a great genius. 
We may search the world as with lighted candles, and live to 
the age of the oldest man of the ages, but we shall die 
without the sight of another whose virtues, public and pri- 
vate, whose usefulness in the community, whose excellence 
in the several branches of literary labor which he so faith- 
full)' performed, whose sterling integrity, manly dignity, 
true nobility, and high Christian character are more worthy 
of our admiration and imitation than those which add lus- 
tre to the name and give fragrance to the memory of our 
departed and beloved friend, William A. Whitehead. "' 

His successor, Stephen W'ickes, M. D., elected in Janu- 
ary, 1885, had already acquired a reputation as an histori- 



1 Sketch of the Life and Character of William A. Whitehead, i>.\ Samuel [rense- 
us Prime. Read before the New Jersey Historical Society, Maj 21, 1885. [New- 
ark. | 8vo. Pp. 22. Reprinted from the Proceedings, 2d Series, VIII., 181-202. 



56 FIFTY YEARS OF 

an of industrious research, by his valuable " History of 
Medicine in New Jersey, and of its Medical Men, From the 
Settlement of the Province to A. D. 1800," published in 
1879. He was born at Jamaica, L. I, March 17, 1813; 
graduated from Union College, Schenectady, and having 
been licensed as a physician, practiced his profession for 
fifteen years at Troy, N. Y., whence he removed, in 1852, 
to Orange, in this State, which was thereafter his home. 
He became a member of this Society in 1863, but being 
engaged in active practice, and in collecting material for 
the work mentioned, as well as for a history of Orange, he 
took no active part in the Society's affairs until 1879, when 
he was appointed on the Committee on Library. In May, 
1884, he was added to the Executive Committee, to fill a 
vacancy. As a member of the two committees named, he 
soon made a point of visiting the rooms of the Society reg- 
ularly. When Mr. Whitehead died, the Society deemed 
itself fortunate in finding Dr. Wickes ready and willing to 
attempt the difficult task of filling the place so honored by 
such a predecessor, and the choice was vindicated by the 
character of his service, until death deprived us of his 
abilities, on July 8, 1889, at Orange. He introduced 
the custom of embodying in the reports of the Executive 
Committee, to be published in the Proceedings, notices of 
deceased members of the Society. A favorite project of 
his, which he pressed with zeal and energy, was the forma- 
tion of local historical societies in affiliation with this So- 
ciety. He was precise, methodical and painstaking in his 
work, was at his desk in the library two or three mornings 
a week, and devoted much thought to the Society's inter- 
ests. His courtly elegance of manner, his habit of always 
wearing a dress-suit, and his white hair and long, snow-white 
beard, gave him a venerable and striking appearance, while 
his bright eye and elastic step betokened a vigorous frame 
and alert mind. Dr. Wickes read two papers before the 







&£n & S 



r-&^ 




HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 57 

Society, both from his long-contemplated History of Or- 
ange. 1 One was presented at the meeting in Newark, May 
1 5- l %79> on "The Newark Mountains in the Last Century ;" 
the second was read at Princeton, September 28, 1888, on 
"The First Minister of Orange, N. J., 1718," in which he 
rescued from obscurity some records of the Rev. Jedidiah 
Buckingham.- An appreciative Memoir of Dr. Wickes was 
read to this Society, at the meeting in Newark, May 15, 
1890, by his friend, Dr. Joseph Parrish, of Burlington/ 5 

DECEASED RECORDING SECRETARIES. 

I have been well acquainted with all our Recording Sec- 
retaries, with one exception. 

The first was Joseph P. Bradley. He took an active part 
in the organization of the Society, on February 27, 1845, 
and was elected Recording Secretary on that day. He 
discharged the duties of the place most acceptably for two 
years, but thereafter declined to hold any office. His in- 
terest in the Society, and in its work, however, continued 
through his long life, being manifested in his service on 
various committees, until his removal to Washington ; by 
his constant donations to the library, including on one oc- 
casion a large number of rare Legislative Journals and 
Acts; his frequent attendance on the meetings, so late as 
May 16, 1889, when he made some interesting remarks 
about the great value of our collections, and added the 
significant suggestion: "If those interested in history 
would occasionally give an hour to the subject they would 
accomplish a good work." Himself one of the busiest ot 
men, he nevertheless found — or took — a great deal of time 
for historical research. He told me that during his vaca- 
tion one Summer, when he was past seventy-five, he had 

1 His -'History of the Oranges in Essex Comity. N. J., from 1666 to 1806," was 
, posthumously published, in elegant form, in 1892. 
-' Proceedings. 2d Series. X.. 103-112. 

» Ibid.. XI.. 11-19. 
8 



58 FIFTY YEARS OF 

spent several weeks in poring over musty town records in 
Connecticut, devoting a whole day at one time to decipher- 
ing an almost illegible document. On another occasion 
he related how he had traced out the lines of the original 
town-lots in Newark. Again, speaking of the Elizabeth- 
town Bill in Chancery, he expressed the opinion that the 
East Jersey Proprietors were in error in that controversy. 
He gave me most generous assistance in the preparation of 
a memoir of Josiah Hornblower, which I had undertaken 
before learning that he had accumulated much material 
with the same object in view, and spent many evenings in 
going over my manuscript and proofs. Later, he warmly 
encouraged me to write a paper on Chief Justice Hornblow- 
er. Only a few months before his death he passed an hour 
or two one afternoon in my library, conversing on historic 
themes relating to New Jersey, in which he manifested as 
keen an interest and as fresh a recollection as if he had not 
been for more than twenty years a resident of Washington. 
A paper which he read to us at Trenton, on January 23, 
185 1, on "The American Union, and the Perils to which it 
it has been Exposed," is an able and philosophical analysis 
of the moving causes which impelled the Colonies to form 
that Union, and of the influences which up to 1850 had 
threatened its continuance. It also voiced in unmistakable 
language the writer's conception of the paramount sover- 
eignty of the National power, vested in the Union — a con- 
ception to which he was destined within forty years to 
give the force of law, in the famous Legal Tender decision. 
His "Memorial of the Life and Character of Hon. William 
L. Dayton," to which I have already alluded, was not com- 
pleted by him until 1875, when it was published in our 
Proceedings. It is an admirable presentation of the salient 
features in the career of Judge Dayton, and of his charac- 
teristics. It is only two years ago — in January, 1893 — since 
we had the melancholy pleasure of listening to that splen- 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 5£ 

did and most scholarly address upon Judge Bradley, by his 
surviving classmate, the Hon. Cortlandt Parker. 1 The prin- 
cipal facts in his career are familiar to all. How he was 
born March 14, 1813, the son of a modest farmer in the 
Helderberg, New York; how, amid the relentless drudgery 
of the farm he prepared himself for college; how he en- 
tered Rutgers, in our own State, and by unstinted toil, aid- 
ed by a marvellously tenacious memory, he speedily forged 
ahead, and graduated in 1836 ; 2 how he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and steadily worked his way to the 
front rank of his profession, until his superiority was rec- 
ognized by his appointment, March 21, 1870, to the Su- 
preme Court of the United States, where his abilities shone 
with increasing lustre until his death, on January 22, 
1892. His wife was the daughter of Chief Justice Horn- 
blower, the first President of the Society, and his surviv- 
ing son has been for several years a member of our Exec- 
utive Committee. The figure of Justice Bradley as an 
able lawyer of solid acquirements, and as a most distin- 
guished jurist, is destined to loom larger as the years go 
by, and it will be ever a caute of congratulation to this So- 
ciety that it was honored by his active membership for 
nearly half a century. 

Our second Recording Secretary, Dr. John S. Condit, 
was a descendant of John Conditt, weaver, who came from 
England or Wales, and purchased lands in the bounds of 
Newark, in 1689 and 1691, where he died in 17 13. His 
grandson, Samuel (son of Peter), born Dec. 6, 1696, set- 
tled in what is now West Orange, and married Mary Dodd, 
in 1722. One of Samuel's grandsons was Dr. John Condit, 
of Orange ; he was a Surgeon in the Revolutionary War, 

1 Mr. Justice Bradley, of the United States Supreme Court, by Cortlandt Park- 
er. Read before the Historical Society of New Jersey, January 34, 1893. Proceed- 
ings, -2d Series. XII.. 143-177. 

2 He was a Trustee of Rutgers College, 1850-1892. 



60 FIFTY YEARS OF 

member of Congress from New Jersey, 1 799-1 803, United 
States Senator, 1803-18 17, and Member of Congress again, 
1819-20. His son, Silas Condit, born August 18, 1778, 
was a member of the Assembly, 1812, 1816, and of the 
Council, 18 19-1822, Representative in Congress, 1 83 1 — 
1833, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 
1844. He was a resident of Newark, being President of 
the "Old Bank" (the Newark Banking and Insurance Com- 
pany) for several years. His first child was John Smith 
Condit, born November 16, 1801. He graduated at Prince- 
ton College, in 1817, studied law and then medicine, gradu- 
ating in 1822 from the New York College of Physicians and 
Surgeons. He resided on the east side of the Passaic riv- 
er, opposite Newark, and was elected to the Assembly from 
Hudson county in 1840, and to the Legislative Council, 
1 841-1842. He joined this Society. May 7, 1845, and was 
elected Recording Secretary, January 21, 1847. The de- 
scendants of the old Newark families should always remem- 
ber him with gratitude for the work he did in carefully 
transcribing all the tombstone inscriptions in the Old Bury- 
ing Ground, and of those prior to 1800 in the other bury- 
ing grounds in and near Newark, which record he present- 
ed to the Society in a handsomely-engrossed volume, at 
the meeting on November 5, 1846. He died April 5, 1848. 
In announcing his death to the Society, on May 25, 1848, 
Mr. William B. Kinney remarked : "This severe bereave- 
ment not only deprives us of the services of a faithful of- 
ficer, ever prompt and cheerful in the discharge of official 
duties, but removes from amongst us an associate and coun- 
sellor whose pure and upright mind, mature judgment, 
sound learning and rare acquaintance with the history of 
our native State, gave an inappreciable value to his exam- 
ple and influence." 1 



i Proceedings, III., 61. 



historical Work in NEW JerseV. 6i 

David Abbott Hayes, of Newark, was elected, May 25, 
1848, to succeed Dr. Condit as Recording Secretary, and 
was re-elected annually for twenty-seven years. He was 
born in Newark, May 29, 1810, being a descendant of 
Thomas Hayes, of Milford, Conn , 1645, whose son Robert, 
born at Milford, Sept. 50, 1679, removed to Newark about 
1692, where he died October 28, 1759. Mr. Hayes studied 
law with Gov. William Pennington, and on being admitted 
to the bar, in 1834, opened an office in Newark, where he 
practiced the rest of his life. He was deeply and intelli- 
gently interested in every enterprise calculated to advance 
the welfare of Newark, and hence this Society, which he 
joined May 7, 1845, found in him a constant friend. I may 
not dwell upon the personal relations between him and 
myself, which began as teacher and pupil in the old First 
Presbyterian Sunday School of Newark, but it is proper to 
recall the zeal with which he performed his duties as an 
officer of this Society, and the enthusiasm with which he 
entered into every movement which bade fair to promote 
its interests. He vigorously pressed the printing of the 
Newark Town Records; it is to him that we are indebted 
for the narrative of the singular discovery in an attic at 
Short Hills, of Gilbert Stuart's beautiful portrait of Aaron 
Burr, which is one of our most highly prized treasures; 
and it was he who offered the resolution, January 19, 1871, 
urging the State to have the New Jersey Regimental flags 
deposited in a suitable receptacle in the State House, which 
has since been done. He made many valuable donations 
to our Library, and contributed liberally toward providing 
a permanent home for the Society. His was a genial 
presence in our rooms, and he was greatly missed when we 
were deprived of his companionship, on November ir, 
1875. 

His successor was Adolphus Pennington Young, elected 
January 20, 1876. He was born in Newark, in Septerrber, 



62 fclFTY YEARS OP 

1844, the son of Captain Aaron Young, who died in his 
country's service in the war of the Rebellion. His moth- 
er, P. Louisa, was a daughter of James W. Pennington, son 
of Gov. William S. Pennington. He was admitted to the 
bar in 1868, and practiced in Newark. His father's expe- 
riences in the War led the son to attempt a history of the 
campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, and at the meeting of 
the Society in Trenton, in January, 1873, he read a paper on 
"Events in the Shenandoah Valley, particularly with refer- 
ence to the battle at New Market, on the 14th May, 1864." 
The minutes kept by him are models of chirography, and all 
his papers showed the same love of neatness. His charac- 
ter was singularly pure and transparent, he was sincerity 
itself, in manner very winning, and his youthful earnestness 
drew us all closely to him. He died at his residence at 
East Orange, October 6, 1879, having just completed his 
thirty-fifth year. 1 He had been a member of the Society 
since January 18, 1872. 

THE TREASURERS AND LIBRARIANS. 

Thomas J. Stryker, the first Treasurer, elected in 1845, 
was descended from Jan Strijcker, who was born in Hol- 
land, in 1615, and came to New Amsterdam in 1652, 
whence he removed in 1654 to Midwout (now Flatbush), 
L. I., where he was elected Schepen and Chief Magistrate 
for twenty years, and held many other offices of trust and 
honor. His grandson, Jan Strijcker (son of Gerrit), 
bought, Feb. 18, 1714, three hundred acres of land at Mid- 
dlebush, Somerset county, and soon after removed thither. 
Jan's great-great-grandson, Thomas J. Stryker, was born at 
Princeton, June 23, 1800. He engaged in business in Tren- 
ton at an early age, and was identified with most of the in- 
stitutions — religious, moral, educational and financial — of 
the town. He was a Manager of the State Lunatic Asy- 

1 See Proceedings. 2d Series, III., 57-58; VI., 68-70, 77. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 63 

lum at Trenton from its organization, and was cashier of 
the Trenton Banking Company from 1842 for thirty years. 
He served this Society as Treasurer until 1848, when he 
declined a re-election. He died at Trenton, September 28, 
1872. Said one of his business associates: "In the rela- 
tions of a Christian gentleman and a man of business, the 
name of Mr. Stryker will live as long in this community as 
the name of any other man who has left us. The confi- 
dence he held among the people was unsurpassed." 1 

I did not know Mr. Stryker, but I do very well remem- 
ber James Ross, of Newark, who was elected in 1848, and 
although he retired at the close of 1855, long before my 
recollection, he retained his interest in the Society for 
many years thereafter. 

In 1856 the offices of Librarian and Treasurer were 
merged in the person of Samuel H. Congar, but in i860 
they were separated, and Solomon Alofsen was chosen 
Treasurer. He was born in Amsterdam, Holland, Novem- 
ber 22, 1808, of a good Dutch family, and coming to 
America in early manhood as Secretary of the Netherlands 
legation, he concluded to stay here, and settled in Jersey 
City. He dealt largely in railroad and other investments. 
He was enrolled in this Society, May 7, 1845, an(J was a 
generous contributor to its treasury and to its library, pre- 
senting more than six hundred separate publications rela- 
ting to the Rebellion, and frequently giving us the benefit 
of his knowledge of Dutch to translate ancient records in 
that language. To his familiarity with the language of 
heraldry, also, we are indebted for the technical description 
of the seal of the Society.' He resigned the office of 
Treasurer, May 16, 1867, when about to make a prolonged 
visit to his native country. In accepting his resignation a 



1 Mr. Stryker was the father of Adjutant General William s. Stryker, now 
[January. is;ts| President of the Society. 

2 Proceedings, 11.. :: ; 2d Series, XIII., 8. 



64 FIFTY YEARS OF 

resolution was adopted expressing in behalf of the mem- 
bers "their high appreciation of the efficient manner in 
which his gratuitous services had been rendered for more 
than seven years, and the obligations they are under for 
the generous contributions which at different times he has 
made to their funds." 1 In 1871 he left this country to take 
up his permanent residence abroad. He had a large and 
very valuable library, chiefly of Americana, which he took 
with him, but having no settled place of abode was obliged, 
much to his regret, to sell the collection, at auction, in June, 
1876, at Utrecht." 3 He died suddenly at Arnhem, October 
19, 1876. 3 

Col. Robert Smith Swords, of Newark, was elected Treas- 
urer May 16, 1867, to succeed Mr. Alofsen. He was a native 
of New York city, where he was born July 12, 18 16. Grad- 
uating at Columbia College in 1834, he practiced law, 1837— 
1847, but in 1849 retired from practice and settled near 
Rutherford, New Jersey. In 1850 he made an extensive 
trip through Europe, acquiring a thorough knowledge of 
French and Spanish. He was commissioned Lieutenant 
Colonel of the Thirteenth New Jersey Regiment, August 
8, 1862, and participated in the battles of South Mountain 
and Antietam in the following month, being wounded in 
the former engagement. He resigned, February 3, 1863, 
and took up his residence in Newark, where he acted as 
secretary of the Board of Trade and treasurer of various 
other organizations. He became a member of this Soci- 



1 Proceedings. 2d Series. I., ->ri. 

2 The catalogue of this sale made 267 closely-printed octavo pages, and con- 
tained 4.584 lots. It was well remarked in the preface that Mr. Alofsen was a bib- 
liophile, and not a bibliomaniac: that he used his books, all of them, as attested 
by his numerous remarks, corrections ami additions scattered throughout their 
pages. I have Mr. Alofsen"s copy of Taylor's 'Annals of the Classis of Bergen," 
enriched in this manner by Mr. A.; moreover, he has laid in a dozen or more pa- 
ges of notes in his fine, clerkly handwriting, containing most interesting informa- 
tion, together with his correspondence with the Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, the au- 
thor, relating to some of the statements in the book. 

3 For a brief notice of Mr. Alofsen, see Proceedings, 2d Series, IV.. 168. 



HISTORICAL WORK IX NEW JERSEY. 65 

ety, January 19, i860, making thereafter numerous dona- 
tions to the library. For two or three years before his 
death, he spent his whole time in the gratuitous service of 
the Society, acting as Librarian, and keeping up the cata- 
logue of books and manuscripts. He read a Memoir of 
John Rutherfurd, already mentioned, in 1872, and in 1879 
a paper on "The Bones of Columbus," discovered in the 
Cathedral of San Domingo two years previously. It was 
on the motion of Col. Swords that the Society took action, 
May 20, 1880, to secure full records of the deaths of its 
members. 1 At the next meeting his own decease was the 
first announced, 2 he having died at Newark on January 15, 
1 88 1 . Warm-hearted, energetic, and impulsive in temper- 
ament, positive in manner, at times irascible from attacks 
of the gout, always scholarly and industrious, for nearly 
fourteen years he was a valuable officer. 

Of the first Librarian, Thomas Gordon, of Trenton, I 
have no recollection. He was doubtless a descendant of 
Thomas Gordon, one of the early settlers of Perth Amboy, 
and who for many years was one of the leading men in the 
Province, occupying numerous important positions — as At- 
torney General of East Jersey, 1698, Judge, member of the 
Assembly, 1 703-1709, member of the Council, 1709— 1722, 
Receiver-General and Treasurer, 1710-1719. He died at 
Perth Amboy, April 28, 1722, in his seventieth year. His 
son Thomas removed to Hunterdon county, where he was 
living in 1738. It was perhaps the latter's son Thomas 
who in his will, dated January 9, 1779, describes himself as 
a yeoman, of Amwell, Hunterdon county. His will was 
proved April 29, 1785. He left much of his property to 
his son Franklin (who died at Amweil in July, 1793), and 
to Franklin's grandsons, Othneil and Thomas. The last - 
named (Thomas) was born about 1775, at Amwell. He 

1 Proceedings. 2d Series. VI.. 92. 

2 Ibid.. 116. 

y 



66 FIFTY YEARS OF 

removed early in life to Trenton, where he was a surveyor 
and conveyancer. Many of his maps were admirably 
drawn and colored. His interest in matters literary appears 
from his election in 1822 among the first Board of Mana- 
gers of the Apprentices' Library, of Trenton, of which he 
was chosen Clerk. He was elected Librarian of this Soci- 
ety in 1845 and again in 1846, but as the library was loca- 
ted in Newark, and as he was advanced in years, he could 
give the duties of the office little or no personal attention, 
and he retired in 1847. He is supposed to have died in 
October, 1848, at Trenton. 1 

The functions of Librarian devolved upon the Corres- 
ponding Secretary during the next two years, until he was 
relieved, at his own request, May 25, 1848, when Dr. Sam- 
uel H. Pennington was appointed to the vacant position, 
devoting to it such time as he could occasionally spare 
from his practice. He was succeeded, January 15, 1852, 
by Samuel H. Congar, of Newark, who gave twenty years 
to the Society's service in this capacity. John Conger, his 
ancestor, was among those New England colonists who 
settled at Woodbridge prior to 1668, whence some of his 
posterity came in the ensuing century to Newark, where 
Samuel Hayes Congar was born, December 10, 1796. His 
mother, Hannah, was a daughter of Major Samuel Hayes, 
a Revolutionary soldier, and Sarah Bruen, both the Hayes 
and Bruen families being among the early founders of 
Newark. It having been proposed, about 1845, to utilize 
the Old Burying Ground in Newark for some other pur- 
pose, Mr. Congar was aroused in opposition, and he pro- 
ceeded to make extensive historical and genealogical in- 
quiries regarding the old settlers there interred, until he 
became possessed of a greater store of antiquarian lore re- 
garding Newark and vicinity than any other person. 
Much of this he gave to the public in a series of articles 

1 His will, dated Oct. 20, 1847, was proved Oct. 31, 18-18. 




SAMUEL H. CONGAR 



HISTORICAL WORK IX NEW JERSEY. 6j 

in the Newark Daily Advertiser ; more was published by 
him in the volume containing a report of the Newark Bi- 
Centennial Celebration; 1 and still more is deposited in our 
library, he having joined this Society May 25, 1848. He 
explored the musty recesses in the Essex county court 
house and brought to light many forgotten records of 
great interest and value, to which he added others discov- 
ered in old attics.'- He was a veritable " Old Mortality," 
and as he moved briskly but noiselessly about the rooms 
of the Society, I always looked upon him with a sort of 
awe, for the knowledge of the dead and fast hidden under 
that dry old grey-haired pate. Such a man as Mr. Con- 
gar is invaluable in a Society like this. While he lived no 
one ever thought of attempting to trace the genealogy of 
any Newark family without consulting him. When he 
died, July 29, 1872, in the house in which he was born, it 
was recognized that the Society had sustained an irrepar- 
able loss. It is simple truth to say that no one has ever 
attempted to take up the work in which he was so pecu- 
liarly an adept. 3 

The Rev. Samuel Hutchings, an elderly retired clergy- 
man, was engaged to take charge of the library and rooms 
of the Society, as assistant and acting Librarian, after Mr. 
Congar's death, no Librarian being chosen until January 
21, 1875, when Martin R. Dennis was elected to fill the 
vacancy. Mr. Dennis was in active business, and could 
not give much time to the work, but he employed assist- 
ance, largely at his own expense, so that the rooms were 
kept open regularly. He was born at Newton, Sussex 
county, in 1823, the son of Ezekiel Dennis and Mary (Bald- 
win) Dennis, came to Newark when young, studied medi- 
cine and graduated from the New York Medical College, 

1 Supplement to N. J. Hist. Soc. Coll., VI. 

2 See N. J. Hist. Soc Coll.. v.. 501-502. 

3 For an obituary notice of Mr. Congar, see Proceedings. 2d Series. III.. 5U 52. 



6$ fifty years of 

but instead of practicing engaged in the drug business in 
New York for some years. About 1849 he was taken into 
partnership by his brother, Alfred L. Dennis, in the book 
and stationery business, which the latter had bought many 
years before from William Tuttle. In 1 86 1 he succeeded 
to the business, and continued it at the old stand, on the 
southwest corner of Broad and Academy streets. He was 
elected a member of this Society, May 16, 1867. At the 
meeting in January, 1868, he was appointed on the Com- 
mittee on Library, of which he was chairman from 1871, 
and in that capacity was highly efficient in adding to the 
Society's resources. He died February 1, 1881. 1 

On January 20, 1 88 1, Frederick William Ricord was 
elected Treasurer and Librarian, under an arrangement by 
which he agreed to spend the greater part of every day in 
the Society's rooms, for a nominal compensation. Judge 
Ricord has been continued in the dual office by annual 
elections ever since, and the wisdom of having an accom- 
plished gentleman of extensive literary, historical and bib- 
liographical acquirements in constant charge of the rooms 
has been proved beyond all question by this action. 2 

1 See Proceedings. 2d Series, VI.. 134. 

2 At the time of the delivery of this address Judge Ricord occupied a seat on 
the platform, though in a very feeble state of health. He failed steadily until Au- 
gust 12, 1897, when he was taken from us. A few facts in his life may be noted 
briefly here. He was the son of Dr. Jean Baptiste Ricord. who married Elizabeth, 
a daughter of the Rev. Peter Stryker. of Belleville. Mr. Ricord was born October 
7. 1819. studied at Geneva College, and subsequently at Rutgers College, after which 
he began the study of the law. but soon engaged in teaching, which he followed 
twelve years, in Newark. In 1819 he became librarian of the Newark Library As- 
sociation, where the writer was employed under him for a few weeks in the sum- 
mer of 1858. He was a member of the Board of Education. 1853-18(59; was State 
School Superintendent four years; Sheriff of Essex County. 18(55-0-7; Mayor of 
Newark. 1869-1873. a service made memorable by his stubborn and ultimately suc- 
cessful fight against a patent wooden pavement; subsequently he was a City Po- 
lice Justice, and one of the Lay Judges of Essex County. But to him his real life 
was that spent among his books. He was the author of many school-books, of 
translations from the French, and published two volumes of metrical versions 
of "English Songs from Foreign Tongues." He was an accomplished litterateur 
and a delightful social companion. 




FREDERICK WILLIAM RICORD 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 69 

SOME MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
The Rev. Daniel Veach McLean, D. D , was the first 
Chairman of the Executive Committee, elected at the or- 
ganization of the Society, February 27, 1 8^ 5 . This was a 
fitting recognition of his important part in urging the 
formation of the Society, which he suggested in the sum- 
mer of 1844, an< J it was a t his instance that the first meet- 
ing was held for the purpose. He was born in Fayette 
county, Penn., November 24, 1801, and after graduating 
from the State University in Ross county, Ohio, in 1824, 
and teaching for about three years, he studied two years 
in Princeton Theological Seminary, when he was licensed 
to preach by the Presbytery of Carlisle, and occupied the 
pulpit of the First Church of Lebanon, Ohio, for two 
years. He was then called to the Old Tennent Church, in 
Monmouth county, New Jersey, where he spent four years, 
followed by fifteen years in charge of the Freehold Presby- 
terian church, which he left in 1850 to assume the Presi- 
dency of Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa., where he 
labored with great success for six years. He then spent 
four years in Europe, and on his return filled pastorates at 
Plainfield, and at Red Bank, dying at the latter place, De- 
cember 23, 1869. 1 Dr. McLean was genial yet dignified in 
his intercourse with his fellows, of strong natural force of 
character, deeply interested in educational work in every 
phase. He was intensely positive in his convictions, ready 
to assert his views at all times and places, yet submitting 
gracefully when defeated. He thought the records of the 
Society ought to have set out more particularly just how it 
came to be formed, and he made a strenuous effort to have 
the library located at Trenton, but when he failed to have 
his ideas adopted, he seemed as interested as ever, served 
as Chairman of the Executive Committee, 1845-6-7-8, and 
second on the Committee in 1 849-1 S50, besides render- 

1 Proceedings. 3d Series. II., 3, 74-75. 



70 FIFTY YEARS OF 

ing valuable service on other committees, until his removal 
from the State, in 1850, and made important donations 
through a long series of years. On returning to the State 
he resumed his associations with the Society, attending the 
last meeting before his death. 

The Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D., of Elizabeth, was another 
original member of the same Committee, of which he was 
Chairman from January, 1849, until his death, February 4, 
1 861. Dr. Murray was born at Balynaskea, County VVest- 
meath, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1802, of a well-to do, prominent 
Roman Catholic family. He came to America in 1818, with 
but $12, and found employment in Harper & Brothers' print- 
ing and publishing house. Having joined the Brick Pres- 
byterian church, his remarkable abilities induced a num- 
ber of influential friends to urge him to prepare for the 
ministry, which he did, graduating at Williams College, at 
Amherst, Mass., in 1826, and at the Princeton Theological 
Seminary in 1829. After four years in the pastorate at 
Wilkesbarre and Kingston, Penn., he was called in .1833 to 
the First Presbyterian church at Elizabeth, N. J., where he 
continued the rest of his life, despite constant and most 
tempting offers from other fields of labor. He ranked 
among the ablest and most influential men in his denom- 
ination. As a pastor and as a Christian gentleman he had 
no superior. In literature he attained a wide reputation as 
a graceful writer, while in controversy his pen was a most 
trenchant weapon — powerful as Richard Coeur de Lion's 
mighty sword, keen as the scimetar of Saladin. 1 I have 
mentioned his valuable " Notes, historical and biographical, 

1 Memoirs of the Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D. (•• Kir wan "). by Samuel Irenaeus 
Prime [D. D.]. Harper & Brothers. New York. 18(53. 12mo. Pp.448. 

A Discourse addressed to the First Presbyterian church in Elizabeth, N. J., 
February 10. 1881. the Sunday morninK immediately succeeding the death of the 
Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D., their pastor. By William B. Sprague, D. D. Albany, 
N. Y.. 1861. 8vo. Pp. 51. 

Hatfield's History of Elizabeth. 1868, pp. 669-673. 

A brief notice of Dr. Murray's death is given in the Proc. N. J. Hist. Soc, 
IX., 77. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 71 

concerning Elizabethtown," published in 1844. At the 
meeting of the Society at Newark, May 25, 1848, he read 
a " Memoir of Rev. James Caldwell," the " Fighting Par- 
son " of the Revolution, whose wife was shot by the British 
at Connecticut Farms in 1780, and who was himself killed 
by an American sentinel, at Elizabethtown, Nov. 24, 
1 78 1. 1 Dr. Murray was an earnest and most useful friend 
of the Society for the first sixteen years of its existence. 

Archer Gifford was a member of the Executive Commit- 
tee, 1 845—1 859, being Chairman, 1854-1859. He was 
born in Newark in 1796, son of Capt. John Gifford; grad- 
uated from Princeton in 18 14, and was licensed as an at- 
torney in 1 8 1 8. President Jackson appointed him Collec- 
tor of the Port of Newark in 1836, an office he retained for 
twelve years. He was a man of literary tastes and diversi- 
fied scholarship, publishing a "Digest of Statutory and 
Constitutional Constructions," with " An Index of the 
Statutes at Large;"'- a work on the " Unison of the Lit- 
urgy," 3 and read before this Society, at Trenton, January 
17, 1850, a paper on "The Aborigines of New Jersey," 4 
which gives an excellent summary of the history of the 
New Jersey tribes. Mr. Gifford had also collected consid 
erable original material for a Biography of Peter Wilson, 
LL. D., of Hackensack, afterwards of Columbia College, 

1 Proceedings, ill.. 77 89. The sentinel was hanged for the murder; it was sus- 
pected that he was a British sympathizer. 

2 A Digest of the Statutory and Constitutional Constructions delivered in the Su- 
preme Court, and Court of Errors and Appeals, of the State of New Jersey. 
Alphabetically arranged. By Archer Gilford. Counsellor at law. Newark. N. .1 . 
L852 svn. Pp.xii, 549, (1). Synopsis of the Constitution of New Jersey. Adopted 
June -.' i. 1S44. Alphabetically arranged. Pp. (2), 41. An Index to the Statutes at 
Large of the State of New Jersey [1776-1850]. Pp. (4), 391. (1). These works ex- 
hibit an immense amount of industry. 

3 Unison of the Liturgy: bein.y an exhibition of The Harmony of the Subject 
contained in the collect for each of the Sundays and Holydays in the year, with the 
epistle, the gospel, and the lessons Cor that day. and of its accordance with a cor- 
responding topic in the church's catechism, and in her articles of religion. By 
Archer Gifford. A. M. . . . Prom Advent to Ash- Wednesday. New York 1856. 
L2mo. Pp. :U7. (t). 

4 Prosesdiags, IN'., 163-198. 



J2 FIFTY YEARS OF 

and the compiler of Wilson's Laws, 1 702-1 784, but it was 
unfinished when he died suddenly, May 13, 1859. 1 

The Rev. Eli Field Cooley, a member of the Committee, 
1845-1846, was born in Sutherland, Mass., Oct. 15, 1781 ; 
graduated from Princeton College in 1806, and was pastor 
of the Presbyterian churches at Cherry Valley, N. V., 
1809-1820; at Matawan, N. J, 1820-1823, and in the 
First Church of Trenton, now Ewing, 1 823—1 857. He 
was a man of great and varied industry; was one of the 
founders of the American Bible Society, in 18 16; induced 
the New Jersey Legislature to provide for the support of 
the blind, and of deaf mutes; was one of the building 
committee of the State Lunatic Asylum at Trenton, and an 
active member of the committee which built East and West * 
Colleges at Princeton. I have already mentioned that in 
1842 he wrote a series of papers on the early history of 
Hopewell and Trenton, which were published in the Tren- 
ton State Gazette. The account of Mercer county, in 
Barber and Howe's " Historical Collections," was aLo from 
his pen. He compiled a large amount of material relating 
to the " Genealogy of Early Settlers in Trenton and 
Ewing," which was posthumously published in 1 883 . 2 He 
died April 22, i860. 

Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck. LL. D , the honored Presi- 
dent of Rutgers College, gave us the prestige of his name 
on the Executive Committee during the first two years of 
the Society's existence. He was born in Kingston, N. Y., 
November 29, 1 79 r ; graduated from Yale College in 
1810; began the practice of law at Kingston in 1814; and 
was President of Rutgers College, 1840-1850. "By his 
Lectures on Constitutional Law, his genial manners, his 
generous hospitality, and his happy influence exerted on 

1 Ibid., VIII., 98, 153. 

2 Trenton. 8vo. Pp. 335. Only 403 copies were printed, and the work is now 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 73 

manifold public occasions, he contributed greatly to the 
prosperity of that venerable institution." He died at 
Kingston, N. Y., February 23, 1879. 

One of the most valued of the original members of this 
Society was that " prince of Bishops," as he has been 
called — the Rt. Rev. George Washington Doane, D. D , 
LL D. He was the son of Jonathan Doan, a builder, of 
Trenton, where he was born May 27, 1799. Graduating at 
Union College in 1818, he entered the General Theological 
Seminary in New York, was ordained a deacon in 1821 and 
a priest in 1823, and after a successful ministry in Boston 
was elected Bishop of New Jersey in 1832. A man of 
tremendous energy, fascinating personality and splendid 
eloquence, he speedily became a great power in New Jer- 
sey. His address at the first annual meeting of this Soci- 
ety, at Trenton, January 15, 1846, felicitously entitled 
" The Goodly Heritage of Jerseymen," will be always de- 
lightful reading to every patriotic citizen of our State. He 
served on the Executive Committee, 1845-1855, during 
which period he was seldom absent from the Society's 
meetings. He died April 27, 1859. 

Elias Bailey Dayton Ogden, the last on the list of the 
original members of this Committee, was born at Eliza- 
beth, May 22, 1800, son of Col. Aaron Ogden, distin- 
guished in the Revolution, and United States Senator from 
New Jersey, 1801-1833. Young Dayton was admitted to 
the bar in 1824, and began practice at Paterson, where he 
resided until appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court, in 
[848, when he removed to Elizabeth. He continued on 
the bench, by successive appointments, until his death, 
February 24, 1865. He was a member of the Executive 
Committee, 1845-1854. He may have concluded that 
there was a preponderance of lawyers in the official man- 
agement of the Society, for in 1854 four of the officers and 

six of the nine members of the Executive Committee be- 
10 



74 FIFTY YEARS OF 

longed to that profession, the Chief Justice and two Asso- 
ciate Justices of the Supreme Court being on that Com- 
mittee. 

In 1847 the Rev. John Maclean, D. D., then one of the 
Professors in Princeton College, and from 1854 to 1868 the 
honored and beloved President of that institution, was 
elected a member of our Executive Committee, and served 
until 1 85 1. He attended the meetings of the Society as 
late as 1859, frequently contributing to their interest by 
adding to the information of those present on historic 
themes. He was a member of the Society until his death, 
August 10, 1886, at Princeton. He was a native of that 
place, having been born there March 3, 1800, the son of 
Prof. John Maclean. He graduated from the College in 
1 8 16, and became a member of the faculty in 1822. After 
retiring from the Presidency he wrote a " History of the 
College of New Jersey, from its origin in 1746 to the com- 
mencement of 1854. '' l 

Littleton Kirkpatrick, of New Brunswick, was added to 
the Committee in 1847, ar, d continued thereon until Janu 
ary, 1852. His great-grandfather, Alexander Kirkpatrick, 
a native of Watties Neach, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, came 
to America in 1736, and settled at Mine Brook, near Bask- 
ingridge, Somerset county, where he died, June 3, 1758. 
His grandson, Andrew (son of David, who was born at 
Watties Neach, February 17, 1724, and married Mary Mc- 
Eowen, of Somerset county), was born Feb. 17, 1756, and 
married Jane, daughter of Col. John Bayard, of New 
Brunswick. He was Chief Justice of New Jersey, 18C3— 
1824. His son, Littleton Kirkpatrick, graduated at Prince- 
ton College in 1815, was licensed as an attorney in 1821, 
and practiced in New Brunswick, where he died suddenly, 
August 15, 1859. He was a Trustee of Rutgers College, 

1 Philadelphia. 1877. % vols, 8vo. Pp. 414, 450. 



HISTORICAL WOUK IN NEW JERSEY. 75 

1841-1859, and was distinguished for ability and gen- 
trosity. 

In January, 1851, Daniel Haines was elected a member 
of the Committee, serving until January, 1855. He was 
born in New York city, January 6, 1801, son of Elias 
Haines, a native of Elizabeth, and descendant of the early 
settlers of that ancient town. His mother was Mary, 
daughter of Robert Ogden, of Sussex, and niece of Col. 
Aaron Ogden, of Elizabeth. Daniel Haines graduated 
from Princeton College in 1820, and having been ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1823, began practice at Hamburg, 
Sussex county, which was thereafter his place of residence. 
He was elected Governor of New Jersey, in 1S43, for one 
year, and again in 1847, f° r three years. In 1852 he was 
appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court, which office he 
held for fourteen years. While he was Governor he re- 
peatedly urged upon the Legislature the importance of se- 
curing from England copies of the archives relating to 
New Jersey, and all his life evinced an intelligent interest in 
the objects of this Society. It was my good fortune to be- 
come very well acquainted with Governor Haines in 1875, 
and I learned to esteem him as an upright official, a con- 
scientious citizen, a true friend and a Christian gentleman. 
He died at Hamburg, January 26, 1877. 

Of later members of the Committee I need only to re- 
mind you of the Rev. Andrew Bell Paterson, D. D., 1855- 
1857, of Princeton, afterwards of Salem, and then of St. 
Paul, Minn. ; Dudley S. Gregory, of Jersey City, for so 
many years identified with the railroad and ferry interests 
of that city, and who served on this Committee, 1855- 
1862; William P. Robeson, the distinguished lawyer of 
Warren county, a member of the Committee, 1S56-1862; 
ex-Governor and Speaker William Pennington, of Newark, 
(1858-1860), whose kindly greetings are among the pleas- 
antest of my childhood's recollections; John P. Jackson, 



j6 FIFTY YEARS OF 

one of Newark's most valued citizens, who was on the 
Committee, 1860-1861 ;' the Rev. Dr. John Hall, of Tren- 
ton, who gave us twenty-one years of service on the same 
Committee (1861-1881), besides still further duty on the 
Committee on Publications;'- ex-Governor Charles S. 
Olden, of Princeton, 1862-1870; Charles C. Haven, of 
Trenton, 1862— 1874, who was so enthusiastic in his re- 
searches regarding the battles at Trenton and at Prince- 
ton ; 3 Gen. N. Norris Halsted, of Hudson county, 1864- 
1884, who was a generous friend and zealous worker; 4 
Samuel Allinson, of Yardville, 1871-1883, the "Philan- 
thropist of New Jersey," that good Friend, who in his walk 
and conversation continually exemplified the principles of 
the Society of which he was so worthy and conspicuous a 
member; 5 Theodore F. Rando'ph, of Morristown, 1871- 
1876, Governor of New Jersey, 1869-1872, United States 
Senator, 1 875—188 1 , and one of the founders of our kin- 
dred society, the Washington Association of New Jersey ; 6 
Hugh H. Bowne, of Railway, 1 872-1 876; Joel Parker, of 
Freehold, 1875-1887, Governor of New Jersey, 1863- 
1866, 1872-1875, and Justice of the Supreme Court, 1880- 
1887 ; 7 Joseph N. Tuttle, 1875-1886, one of Newark's most 
upright and honored business men ; 8 Marcus L. Ward, 
of Newark, 1 876-1 884, Governor of New Jersey, 1866- 
1869, member of Congress, 1873— 1S75 ;'* the Rev. Dr. 
George Sheldon, of Princeton, 1877-188 1 ; 10 John F. Hage- 

1 Appropriate notice of Mr. Jackson's death was taken at the meeting of the 
Society, January 16. 1862. See Proceedings, IX.. 80. 

2 See Proceedings. May 17. 1894, 2d Series. XIII.. 65. 

3 Ibid., Jan. 21. 1875, 2d Series. IV., 3. 

■* Ibid.. May 14. 1884, 2d Series. VIII.. 51. 

5 Ibid., Jan. 17, 1884. 2d Series, VIII.. 5. 69-89. 

6 Ibid.. Jan. 17, 1884, 2d Series, VIII.. 6. 

' Ibid., January 24, 1888, 2d Series, X., 8. 57 92. 
« Ibid.. January 25, 1887, 2d Series, IX., 117. 
9 Ibid., May 14. 1884, 2d Series, VIII.. 49; IX.. 136-147. 
10 Ibid., January 21, 1882, 2d Series. VII., 4. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 77 

man, of Princeton, 18S2— 1892, who favored us with several 
papers, and was an efficient member of the Committee; 1 
George A. Halsey,'- of Newark, 1 8S5— 1 8Q4. 3 

Such were some of the men most active in the formation 
and subsequent management of our Society. To us of a 
later generation, who recollect these men as they were in 
our day, the idea of a venerable antiquity attaches itself 
to most if not to all of them. Indeed, I think it is the 
popular idea that grey, or at least scanty, locks are indis- 
solubly associated with historical research — an idea, how- 
ever, that fortunately is rapidly disappearing in view of the 
fact that to-day there are no more enthusiastic students of 
history than the youthful, vivacious and altogether charming 
Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Colonial 
Dames, who haunt our Historical Societies, and make life 
more or less of a burden to Librarians and Corresponding 
Secretaries with their persistent and not-to-be-denied quests 
for information about dead and gone ancestors and the pos- 
sibility of establishing their relationship to Anneke Jans, or 
to Matilda, consort of William the Conqueror. No, as a mat- 
ter of fact, most of the men I have named, so far from be- 
ing aged, with grey or white hair, and venerable aspect, 
were in their very prime ; most of them were under forty 
years, and many of them less than thirty, and their best 
work for the Society was done ere they had attained to as 

1 Ibid., January 1). 1893, 2d Series. XII.. 130-133. 

-' Ibid.. May 17. 1894. 2d Series. XIII.. 66, 95 108. 

3 It will be observed that among the officers of the Society, and members of the 
Executive Committee, have been Governors Peter D. Vroom, William Penning- 
ton. Daniel Haines. Charle : S. Olden. Joel Parker. M ircus L. Ward and Theodore 
F. Randolph; Chief Justices of the Supreme Court Joseph C. Hornblower and 
Henry W. (ireen, to whom should be added (January. 1898). William J. Magie; As- 
sociate Justices of the Supreme Court William L. Dayton. Elias Bailey Dayton 
Ogden, Daniel Haines. David A. Depue (whose wise and sagacious counsels we 
enjoyed in the Executive Committee, isrs 1896); United States Supreme Court 
J ii Mi.-e Joseph P. Bradley: United States District i lourt Judges Richard s. Field 
and John T. Nixon. As this address is going through the press (January. 1898). 
there are on the Board of Trustees ( ; rover < !le\ eland, of Princeton. ex-President of 
the United States; Garret A. Hobart. of Paterson. now Vice President of the 
United states: and Alexander T. McGill, Chancellor of New Jersey. 



7S FIFTV YEARS OF 

many years as the Society has to-day. I mention this for 
the encouragement of the young men and the young wo- 
men who have been deterred from joining this Society, 
and becoming active workers within its ranks, because of 
the impression that they must wait until they have donned 
grey hair and spectacles. The Society welcomes the 
young to its membership, and rejoices to have them enter 
upon the work which shall fit them to take up the tasks 
that their elders must in time lay down. 

Mr. President, fain would I linger longer in loving rem- 
iniscence of those who have gone before us. Surely, me- 
thinks, do their spirits hover over us as we thus proudly 
celebrate what they so ably began. Broad and deep did 
they lay the foundations of this Society, so that as one 
after another of the founders was taken away, the fair fabric 
stood safe and strong, rising ever to still loftier and fairer 
proportions, as new men were found to take the places of 
the old, until to-day the Society constitutes a splendid 
monument to its founders. 



PART III. 

The Society's Library and its Publications. 

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know ;i subject ourselves, or we know where 
we can get information upon it. — Dr. Samuel Johnson. 

The function of an Historical Society is two-fold: the 
collection and the dissemination of knowledge. Obvious- 
ly, the gathering of materials for history comes first This 
was the view rightly taken by our predecessors, and to this 
end their earliest efforts were directed. 

THE LIBRARY OF THE SOCIETY. 
At the meeting when this Society was organized, meas- 
ures were taken toward securing from the State, sets of the 



HISTORICAL WOHK IN NEW JERSEY. 79 

laws and Legislative journals, so far as practicable, and the 
proceedings and collections of other Historical Societies. 
The Legislature promptly passed a joint resolution in com- 
pliance with the request, 1 and from other Societies came 
cordial and gratifying responses. Gifts were received of 
original manuscripts of the greatest value, relating to the 
early history of New Jersey, some of which I have already 
mentioned. On May 7, 1846, a standing committee was 
appointed, to procure, " by purchase or exchange, such 
rare books, pamphlets or other publications referring to 
the history of the State, as cannot be otherwise obtained," 
and this first " Committee on Purchases," as it was styled, 
consisted of Messrs. William B. Kinney, John J. Chetwood, 
the Rev. Daniel V. McLean, D. D , the Rt. Rev. George 
Washington Doane and Isaac Mickle. Through the well- 
directed efforts of this Committee and its successors (later 
called the "Committee on Library") funds were sub- 
scribed from time to time by generous friends/- wherewith 
hundreds of valuable historical works were purchased, 
while at the same time such an interest was stimulated in 
the Society's work that donations of rare works, manu- 
scripts, portraits and other objects of interest were added 
to the collections. 

If I may be permitted to change the metaphor used a 
moment ago, the New Jersey Historical Society has been like 
the central sun in a planetary system. It has shed its reful- 
gent rays into the obscurest corners of the history of our 
State. Moreover, it has exercised both a centripetal and a 
centrifugal force. It has drawn to itself a vast accumulation 

1 Pamphlet Laws. 1845, p. 280. By an ad approved April 16. 1846. it is provided 
thai the New Jersey Historical Society shall receive from the State one copy of 
the laws and Legislative proceedings, and a set of the laws of the United States 
apportioned to this state by Congress. By a supplement approved Feb. 15, 1888. it 
was enacted that the Society shall receive from the state fifty copies of the Leg- 
islative proceedings and documents, "for distribution by said society and ex- 
change with other historical societies." -General Statutle, 3190, 3191, 3196. 

2 Many subscribed certain sums to be paid annually, during a period of five 
years. 



So FIFTY YEARS OF 

of priceless treasures of historical material, stored away in 
its Library, and printed in its various publications. It has 
attracted pilgrims from all parts of our State, from other 
States and even from foreign lands, in quest of light on ab- 
struse points in history, genealogy, biography, bibliogra- 
phy. No history of the State can be written, nor the his- 
tory of any count) - or town in our State, nor scarcely the 
account of any prominent man or of any striking event in 
New Jersey, without recourse to the rooms or to the print- 
ed works of this Society. It has exerted a centripetal 
force, likewise. Many who have come to our rooms, and 
have seen what has there been gathered together, have ob- 
served the work that has been accomplished by this Society, 
have gone back to their homes, inspired by a zeal to emulate 
this work, and have induced their neighbors to form local 
historical societies, which have done good service in their 
own towns or counties, and have been the means of saving 
from destruction many valuable manuscripts, books and 
relics, besides fostering the spirit of historical research 
among their members by that personal contact which is 
so important a factor in such a cause. 

I have suggested that the New Jersey Historical Society 
is a noble monument to the men who founded it. The vis- 
itor to St. Paul's cathedral in London beholds the inscrip- 
tion above one of the great transepts, which the architect 
modestly appropriated : Si monumentum queeris, circiim- 
spice. True it was, two centuries ago, that if you sought 
Sir Christopher Wren's monument, you had but to look 
about you on the magnificent temple which he had e- 
signed and seen built. But to-day, that grand cathedral 
is the English Valhalla. Beneath its dome lies all that is 
mortal of her immortal naval hero; under its nave rests 
the conqueror of Napoleon ; elsewhere is the statue of 
Napier, besides the tombs and effigies of countless other 
of England's heroes. And so as the visitor looks around 



HISTORICAL WORK IN* NEW JERSEY. 8l 

him, in obedience to the command of the Latin inscription, 
he sees not only the vast and harmonious marble pile 
reared by the architect, but he sees also visions of knight- 
ly endeavor, of dauntless courage, of grandest achievement 
by field and flood, and he receives a new inspiration for 
life's battle in gazing upon the monuments of those great 
heroes whom England has thus grandly honored by sepul- 
ture within her noble cathedral; and this inspiration is hal- 
lowed by the sweet and sacred influence of Him for whose 
worship this temple was reared. And so within these holy 
walls there has grown up a greater monument than ever 
dreamed of by the architect, and one whose influence goes 
out through all the world. 

Would you seek the monument of — the evidence of work 
accomplished by — the New Jersey Historical Society? Go 
to its rooms and look about you. Look upon the walls, 
lined from floor to ceiling with books — fifteen thousand of 
them, besides thousands of pamphlets of greatest value. 
Examine the hundreds of volumes of newspaper files — 
those mines of knowledge of contemporary events. Go 
through the cases of manuscripts — the Papers of Ferdi- 
nand John Paris, written like copperplate, and giving the 
minutest information on public affairs relating to New Jer- 
sey a century before this Society had its beginning ; the 
Papers of John Fenwick, of Lewis Morris, of Robert 
Hunter Morris, of Jonathan Belcher, of Samuel Smith, 
of Robert Erskine, the Ruthcrfurd Manuscripts, the 
Whitehead Manuscripts, the Stirling Manuscripts, the orig- 
inal Journals of the Convention which framed the first Con- 
stitution of New Jersey — one of the earliest written Con- 
stitutions ever formed ; the original Journals of the Pro- 
vincial Congress in the troubled times of the Revolution; 
the scores of Orderly Books during the same period ; the 
Diaries, Journals and Letters of the last century, with their 
precise details of life and living; the Papers and Draw- 
11 



82 FIFTY YEARS OF 

ings of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the first practical 
steamboat ; the bundles of correspondence, with their reve- 
lations of the workings of the human heart a hundred 
years ago. Fail not to examine with care Canova's mag- 
nificent marble bust of the Princess Pauline, sister of Na- 
poleon ; the rare and beautiful portraits — Capt. James 
Lawrence, the Jersey hero who cried with his last breath, 
" Don't give up the ship !" Gilbert Stuart's portrait of 
Aaron Burr, which has as strange a history as its subject; 
the Rev. Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin ; the Rev. Dr. Alexan- 
der Macwhorter, Newark's patriot preacher during the 
Revolution; Governor Daniel Haines; Col. Peter Schuy- 
ler; Senator Richard Stockton (the "Duke"); the Rev. 
Dr. Nicholas Murray; William A. Whitehead; the Rev. 
Dr. Irenaeus Prime, and that exquisite portrait on ivory of 
Mrs. Francis Barber Ogden. In various cabinets the curi- 
ous may find the naval uniform of Capt. James Lawrence, 
which he wore at the time of his death, and innumerable 
relics of bygone days, to say nothing of the enormous 
beaver hat, too big to go into any cabinet. 

Surely, these constitute a proud monument for the New 
Jersey Historical Society. 

THE LOCATION OF THE LIBRARY. 

From the beginning of the Society there was a decided 
difference of opinion among its friends as to whether its 
home should be in Newark or in Trenton. In behalf of 
the latter place it was argued that as it was the New Jer- 
sey Historical Society, its headquarters should be in the 
capital of the State, and, in fact, in the State Capitol. For 
Newark, it was held that a majority of the members resided 
in or near that city, and it was confidently promised that 
they would promptly provide accommodations fitting for 
the Society's needs and its dignity. At a meeting held at 
Princeton, on September 4, 1845, the Rev. Dr. Murray of- 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. S"} 

fered an amendment to the constitution, providing that 
"the Library and Deposites of the Society shall be located 
at Newark." This was laid over until the next meeting, 
which was held at New Brunswick, November 6, 1845, 
when the amendment was discussed, amended to read "that 
for the present the Library and Deposits of the Society shall 
be located at Newark," and thus amended was adopted. 1 
The Society met again at Trenton, January 15, 1846, when 
a resolution was offered by Stacy G. Potts, for the appoint- 
ment of a committee to ask the Legislature for the use of 
a suitable room in the public buildings in the city of Tren- 
ton, for the accommodation of the library of the Society. 
The friends of Newark ineffectually sought to defeat the 
resolution, but eventually secured a compromise in the 
shape of a proviso at the end of the resolution, in the 
words, "should the Society eventually conclude to locate 
in Trenton." Messrs. Stacy G. Potts, Henry W. Green 
and Thomas J. Stryker were named as the committee, and 
secured the passage of a joint resolution by the Legisla- 
ture, offering accommodations in the State House for the 
Society's library, " provided the said society shall deter- 
mine at their next annual meeting to locate their library at 
the seat of government, and elect to use and occupy the 
same," and the committee so reported, May 7, 1846. 2 Up 
to this time nothing had been done in Newark toward pro- 
viding a home for the Society, but at the meeting held at 
Salem, September 3, 1846, an offer was received from the 
Board of Chosen Freeholders of Essex County, "tendering 
to the Society the use of a room, &c, in the Court House 
at Newark," which "on motion of Rev. D. V. McLean, was 
laid on the table to be acted on at the January meeting, 
when the location of the Library, &c, will be determined 

1 Proceedings, I.. 68, 90. 

2 Ibid.. I.. 117-118, 129. The Joint Resolution was approved Maiv'i Is. 184& 
—Pamphlet Laws, 1846, p. -H7). 



S4 FIFTY YEARS OF 

on" — as the minutes put it. But when the annual meeting 
was held, on January 21, 1847, after what was evidently an 
ardent contest the subject was again postponed, 21 yeas to 
19 nays, until the ensuing meeting, to be held at Newark. 1 
The victory was with the friends of the latter place. On 
May 27, 1847, the question of the final location of the li- 
brary was again deferred, being made the special order for 
an adjourned meeting, to be held at New Brunswick on 
June 25 ensuing.- At this adjourned meeting (June 25, 
1847) an offer was received from the Newark Library As- 
sociation, tendering the free use of the library and lecture 
rooms in their new edifice, about to be erected, for the So- 
ciety's permanent occupancy, and on motion of the Rev. 
Dr. Murray, the offer was accepted. The Board of Chosen 
Freeholders of Essex County having again offered the So- 
ciety accommodations in the Court House at Newark, it 
was decided to empower the officers and the Newark mem- 
bers of the Executive Committee to arrange for the tem- 
porary location of the library and cabinet in the rooms 
thus generously offered, and this was done. At the same 
meeting the constitution was amended to provide: "The 
Library and Cabinet of the Society shall be located in the 
city of Newark, in the county of Essex." 3 The friends of 
Trenton as the home of the Society were not yet willing to 
yield, and at the next meeting, held at Freehold, Septem- 
ber 16, 1847, Gen. Garret Dorset Wall gave notice of an 
amendment to the constitution substituting "Trenton" for 
"Newark," as the place of deposit for the library, which 
was laid over under the rules until the ensuing meeting, at 
Trenton, on January 20, 1848. At this latter meeting the 
Corresponding Secretary reported that he had caused the 
Society's books to be removed to a room in the Court 

1 Proceedings, I.. 174: II.. 55-56. 

2 Ibid., II.. 72-73. 

3 Ibid.. II., 92-93; III., 2. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 85 

House at Newark, "where for the first time they were ac- 
cessible." The library contained about 650 volumes (126 
bought, and 524 given), 300 pamphlets, 800 manuscripts 
and some maps. An animated discussion was had on 
Gen. Wall's proposed transfer of the library to Trenton, 
and it was defeated : Yeas — 33, Nays — 36. l At the next 
meeting, at Newark, May 25, 1848, it was announced that 
the hall in the Newark Library Association's new building 
on Market street (north side, between Broad and Washing- 
ton streets) was prepared for the meetings of the Society, 
and that the room proffered for the Society's library would 
be ready in a few weeks. Accordingly, the library and 
cabinet were removed thither during the summer of 1848, 
and the next Newark meeting of the Society was held in 
the new quarters, May 17, 1849,'- in what was known as 
the "Upper Library Hall'" — a spacious and pleasant assem- 
bly room in the rear of the public library, and over the 
main audience room, known as "Library Hall." A small 
room between the Library and the "Upper Library Hall" 
was occupied by the library and cabinet of the Society, 
and at a later date by the glass cases of the Newark Nat- 
ural History Society. This same room was the scene of 
many a forensic debate by members of other literary so- 
cieties, so that the collections of the Historical Society 
came to be widely known by the members of kindred asso- 
ciations, in whom, moreover, an interest in its work was 
naturally aroused. 

The Newark friends of the Society were very confident 
that the rooms in the Newark Library Association's build- 
ing were to be occupied but a short time ere we should se- 
cure a stately and commodious building of our own. As 
the years rolled on, however, and that desirable consum- 
mation was still far distant, the continued increase in our 

1 Ibid., II.. U7: III.. 2. 5-6. 

2 Ibid. III., 59, 123-124; IV.. 1. 



86 FIFTY YEARS OF 

collections necessitated a removal to more spacious quar- 
ters. This was authorized, May 20, 1858, and again, May 
19, 1859, the result being that on May 17, i860, the Soci- 
ety met for the first time in its present rooms, on the 
third floor of the Newark National Banking Company's 
building, on the northwest corner of Broad and Bank 
streets, 1 which was then one of the most substantial, 
as it was one of the first, fireproof structures in Newark. 
The rooms were leased for five years, at $400 per year. 
The lease has been renewed from time to time, the present 
rental being $600. There are three rooms, with shelving 
(including stacks) for fifteen or twenty thousand volumes. 
Prior to 1890, the May meetings of the Society were held 
in the room fronting on Broad street. In that year this 
room was filled with book-stacks, to accommodate the large 
additions to the library, and by the kindness of St. John's 
Lodge, No. 1, of New Jersey Freemasons, occupying the 
fourth floor of the building, the Society has met in May of 
each year (1890—94) in the Lodge room. 2 

I have been thus minute in giving the history of the lo- 
cation of the library in Newark, partly as pertaining to 
the annals of the Society, and partly because of the peren- 
nial interest which has always been attached to the subject. 
When other themes failed to attract a large attendance at 
our meetings, it has but needed the announcement that a 
removal of the library from Newark was mooted to secure 
a crowded audience. 

GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LIBRARY. 
The rapid and steady increase in the library and collec- 
tions of the Society, and along the most important lines, 
evinced wise management on the part of the founders, and 

1 Proceedings. VIII.. 116; IX.. 3, 2"2. 

2 Later meetings of the Society in Newark have been held in Dryden Hall, on 
the tenth floor of the Prudential Insurance building, on the southwest corner of 
Broad and Bank streets, that hall— accessible by spacious and convenient eleva- 
tors—having been generously placed at our disposal by the Insurance Company. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. Sj 

a gratifying cooperation by the citizens of this State. 
From the beginning, no pains were spared to secure col- 
lections of manuscripts from families by whom they had 
been treasured in some cases for a century or two. Rare 
books and pamphlets were sought, and special efforts were 
made to obtain early New Jersey newspaper files. The 
Rev. Dr. Murray, for the Executive Committee, happily 
summed up the achievements of four years, at the meeting 
on January 18, 1849: "We have made a noble commence- 
ment as to a library ... we have collected around 
us the intelligence of New Jersey, and excited many 
minds to the investigation of the past, and to the preserva- 
tion of the present, (or the benefit of the future. We are 
in the full tide of successful experiment." 1 When the Soci- 
ety was ten years old, the Executive Committee, on Janu- 
ary 18, 1855, stated: " Scarcely a week passes without a 
donation of some work to enrich our archives; while our 
interchanges with kindred associations are continually flow- 
ing in upon us. Purchases of rare and appropriate books 
have been made, and various periodicals and records of 
events and their localities, and of private biography, have 
been placed where they will become more valuable as time 
advances, and may as profitably be resorted to by future 
chroniclers as are now the Harleian miscellanies, or the 
quaint memoirs of English pastimes and occurrences by 
Sir Samuel Pepys." 2 A year later, again, the Committee 
took an encouraging view of the progress and prospects of 
the Society, and invited donations for a Library Fund, or 
for a Binding Fund. 3 A happy thought of Mr. Walter 
Rutherfurd was embodied in a resolution, May 15, 1856. to 
have the library " thrown open to members of the Society 
and their friends on the second Wednesday evening of each 

i Ibid . III.. 162. 
•-' Ibid.. VII . 118. 
3 Ibid.. VIII.. 2. 



S8 FIFTY YEARS OF 

month, with a view to consultation and conversation upon 
topics connected with the operations of the Society" — 
taking up the counties in turn as special themes for the 
meetings. At least one such conversazione was held, when 
Hudson County was on the programme, and it seems to 
have been a pleasant and profitable occasion. 1 No ar- 
rangement had yet been made to have the rooms open reg- 
ularly in the daytime. If a member wished to consult any 
works in the library he borrowed the key from the custo- 
dian and reveled alone and undisturbed among the treas- 
ures, and if he so minded borrowed them for greater con- 
venience of examination, sometimes forgetting to return 
them — a circumstance that led to the adoption of a rule, 
September 25, 1856, that nothing should be taken from the 
rooms " without the consent of the Librarian and the Chair- 
man of the Executive Committee, and having the same re- 
ceipted for in the Library."- At the meeting on May 17, 
i860, it was announced that "through the liberality of a 
warm friend of the Society, and additional subscriptions 
from a few of the members, a fund had been provided 
... to meet the charge for the rent, and allow of a small 
appropriation annually toward the incidental expenses of 
the library." 3 The removal of the library in i860 to the 
new rooms 4 calling for a change in the management, it was 
decided at this meeting to replace the Committee on Fire 
Proof Building, and the Committee on Purchases, by a new 
Standing Committee on Library, and Messrs. Walter Ruth- 

1 Ibid., VIII.. 35. 44. 

2 Ibid.. 36, 35 (4:!). 

3 Ibid.. IX.. 2."S. Miss Rutberfurd. of Eastridge, Hudson county, contributed for 
several years one-balf of the rent of the library, besides giving to the fund for the 
purchase of books. — /&£(/., 7-1".. 1<>4. The Society has always had equally liberal 
friends. In recent years one of the present (1898) officers gave $500 annually for 
two or three years toward the salary of the librarian, besides even more generous 
contributions for the Society's work in other directions. It would be a great pleas- 
ure to me. as well as to the members generally, were I at liberty to mention the 
names of this and other of our benefactors. 

4 Still occupied in 1898. 







/s ^ Z^. //^t^^>^^y 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. S9 

erfurd, Peter S. Duryee, John P. Jackson, Jr., and Ezra A. 
Carman were appointed. 1 The members of the Committee 
gave a great deal of personal attention and labor to the 
task of arranging and cataloguing the books, pamphlets, 
newspapers and manuscripts, besides contributing largely 
to the expenses of the library, but the work increased so 
rapidly that on January 18, 1866, they reported that they 
were unable longer to attend to it in person, and asked for 
authority — which was given — to employ from time to time 
a competent person to complete the cataloguing and ar- 
ranging of the pamphlets and manuscripts/- During the 
ensuing July, August, September and October the rooms 
were kept open daily, in charge of two competent assist- 
ants, 3 who carried on the needed library work. In the fol- 
lowing winter — 1 866-1 867 — the rooms were opened for 
weekly evening receptions, a feature that proved pleasant 
and profitable. 4 Again in the summer of 1867 an assistant 
librarian was employed, and the rooms were kept open six 
hours each week to the members and to strangers properly 
introduced. A like arrangement was made in the follow- 
ing year, the rooms being open until October I, after 
which Col. Swords, the Treasurer, made a point of being 
present certain hours each day, so that the collections were 
accessible to the members and visitors. In reporting this 
fact, May 20, 1869, the Committee on Library again ad- 
verted to the importance of a permanent librarian in con- 
stant charge of the rooms. The expenses were still borne 
by private subscriptions from a few of the members. 
" Located as the library was in Newark by the vote of the 
Newark members, they should feel bound," the Committee 
urged, " to prove the propriety of the measure by fully 
supporting it, now that it is here and attained to a magni- 

1 Ibid., IX.. 39. 2 ibid., IX., 58, 7*1. 136, 153; X., 70-71 ; 3d Series. I.. 34. 

3 Messrs. Smith and Campbell. 4 Proceedings. 3d Series. I.. 1. 

s William W. Tufts, at one time a teacher in the Newark Public High School. 
12 



90 FIFTY YEARS OF 

tude that renders it not only creditable to the Society, but 
also a feature of the city, of which as citizens they should 
be proud." 1 In 1870 one of the rooms was leased to the 
Newark Board of Trade, for joint occupancy with the Soci- 
ety, and as Col. Swords was Secretary of that body this 
ensured his regular attendance in the rooms, which were 
therefore regularly open while this arrangement continued, 
or until the summer of 1875.' 2 An excellent suggestion 
was embodied in the Committee's report, January 16, 1873. 
" It is difficult," they say, " to imagine anything of a docu- 
mentary character not included within the scope of the So- 
ciety's operations, organized, as it is, ' to discover, procure 
and preserve' whatever may serve to illustrate our history. 
The pamphlet, the circular, the handbill, the advertisement, 
issued for private ends or to promulgate the views and do- 
ings of parties or associations : the newspaper of the day 
with its countless references to persons, things and events, 
the transactions of the market or the exchange, all consti- 
tute links in that wondrous chain upon which the future 
hangs. Every member, therefore, is called upon to add to 
our collections things new as well as old." 3 The plan of 
depending upon special subscriptions for the library was 
discontinued in 1874, it having been found impracticable 
to renew them Since then the General Fund has been 
charged with all expenditures connected with the library. 4 
As means and opportunity offered, the work of cataloguing 
was carried on; in 1874 the large and valuable collection 
of maps (many of them original drawings) was arranged, 
numbered and indexed, and a new catalogue of the library 
was begun, which was completed during the winter of 
1874-5, as to the bound volumes on the shelves, and con- 



1 Ibid., 2d Series, I., 24, 51, 63, 143. 

2 Ibid.. II.. 102 ; III., 99 ; IV., 52, 128. 

3 Ibid.. III., 52-53. See also IV., 125. 

4 Ibid., III., 162; see also VI., 4, 6, 67, 70, 88-90, 113, 118, 123. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 9I 

siderably advanced with regard to the pamphlets. 1 The 
great importance of some of our historical documents led 
to their exhibition at the Centennial Exposition at Phila- 
delphia in 1876, where they attracted deserved attention.'- 
The hope was expressed by the Committee on Library, 
January 18, 1877, that the catalogue, then nearly finished, 
would be printed — a desire still unsatisfied. 3 The unwise 
system had been adopted in the early years of the Society of 
binding pamphlets in volumes, mostly under the conven- 
ient but meaningless title of " Miscellaneous," and it was 
principally for this purpose that the Committee renewed 
the suggestion, May 17, 1877, that a Binding Fund would 
be desirable. 4 Such a Fund is certainly needed for the 
binding of newspapers, books and valuable pamphlets. 
Some years ago Judge Ricord adopted the plan of arrang- 
ing the pamphlets in neat cloth-covered cases, with appro- 
priately lettered paper labels on the back, which is a much 
more satisfactory method than that of binding them in vol- 
umes. Daniel T. Clark, who had been employed as assist- 
ant librarian for some time, having completed the catalogue 
of books and pamphlets, now compiled an index to the 
manuscripts, giving every name mentioned in them, the 
index being arranged in the form of large scrap-books. 
This index may be of value to the genealogist when the 
day comes that the manuscripts are readily accessible. Its 
use otherwise is not apparent, but it represents a vast 
amount of painstaking labor on the part of Mr. Clark, who 
followed closely in the footsteps of Samuel H. Congar in 
his zealous investigations concerning the history of old 
Newark families. His services were dispensed with in 
1879, the duties being gratuitously discharged by Col. 

1 Ibid., IV.. 1. s. 51. 

2 Ibid.. IV.. 156. 164; V., 3. 

3 Ibid., IV., 169. 
■i Ibid. V., 6. 

3 Ibid., V., -18. 115. 166. 



92 FIFTY' YEARS OF 

Swords, the Treasurer. 1 At the meeting at Newark, May 
20, 1880, the Committee reported "with very great satis- 
faction the prospering condition of the library and collec- 
tions. Never in the history of the Society have its attrac- 
tions, in this regard, met with greater appreciation, or its 
rooms been so much resorted to as at present. These 
rooms being so constantly open and accessible to the mem- 
bers, and others who seek for information in our wealth of 
historic lore, are daily resorted to, in a greater degree per- 
haps than ever before. ... In the department of 
biographical and genealogical research, the acquisitions of 
the Society have been unusually successful, and it is in this 
department that most of those who visit the rooms of the 
Library find their interest and occupation.""' The great in- 
crease in the growth of the library at length made it im- 
peratively necessary to have the rooms in charge of a per- 
manent Librarian, and, as already stated, Judge Frederick 
W. Ricord was elected to that office at the annual meeting 
at Trenton, January 20, 1881. 3 This step was made prac- 
ticable by the liberal responses made to a new appeal for 
special contributions toward the support of the library, and 
the result was immediately apparent in a marked improve- 
ment wrought by the new Librarian, in " the arrangement 
and appearance of the books in the different apartments." 4 
The rooms were now opened daily, from 10 a. m. to 
5 p. m., and visitors invariably found in Judge Ricord a 
courteous and accomplished gentleman, studiously atten- 

1 Ibid., VI., 70. 

2 Ibid., VI., 87. 
8 Ibid., VI.. 122. 

* Ibid., VI., 135. At the nest annual meeting, at Trenton, January 21, 1882, the 
Committee on Library reported having received from twenty-seven members sub- 
scriptions amounting to $855 towards the Library Fund.— Ibid. , VII., 4. On May 18, 
1882, the Committee reported that in response to a circular sent out in February, 
inviting subscriptions to the same fund, six contributions had been received, 
amounting to $235. It vvas desired to rais'e $1,500 annually for this purpose.— //>/</. , 
VII., 64. The circular is printed in full, in connection with the report. See also 
VIII., 8. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 93 

tive to respond to their wishes for instruction or to gratify 
their curiosity by displaying the varied treasures on the 
shelves or walls or in the cabinets. Under his fostering 
care the library grew apace. He made an entirely new 
card catalogue of the pamphlets, and began one on the 
same plan for the bound volumes. Said the Committee on 
Library, in their report at Trenton, January 25, 1887: 

It is a gratifying fact that the value of our collections of books, pamph- 
lets and manuscripts is daily becoming more widely known. Visitors to our 
rooms for the purpose of making historical researches are more numerous, 
and information relative to titles, genealogies and boundary lines, which our 
Archives alone can furnish, is now constantly sought from all parts of the 
State. This information is always promptly and cheerfully furnished with- 
out any expense, to everyone who seeks it. Our rules forbid access to our 
collections to no one, and it is the belief of your Committee that the exercise 
of this kind of liberality not only meets with the approval of each member 
of the Society, but is most productive of good to our people and best calcu- 
lated to enhance the value of our institution in the estimation of every citi- 
zen of the State. 1 

The increase in the library occasioned an embarrasse- 
ment dn riches, as the Committee was obliged to report at 
the next meeting (May 19, 1887, at Newark) : "The suc- 
cess which has attended the work of our Society finds us, 
at last, in a position when much of our treasure is com- 
paratively useless, and most of that portion of it which 
should meet our eyes upon occasions like this, must be 
packed away in closets or otherwise almost entirely out of 
view. . . . The flattering prospect of soon possessing 
a building of our own has induced your Committee to 
postpone the erection of the shelving so much needed 
for the accommodation of at least one thousand vol- 
umes, which are at present almost inaccessible. "~ The 
postponement of the new building, however, led the 
Committee to fill the floor of the assembly room, facing 
Broad street, with book-shelves before the end of the 



1 Ibid.. IX.. 110. 

2 Ibid.. IX.. 131-2. 



94 FIFTY YEARS OF 

year, to accommodate the ever-increasing stock of books 
and pamphlets. 1 Judge Ricord also introduced a new 
feature, in gathering from the members of the Society 
autobiographical material and photographs, which now 
form an interesting department in our collections. 2 

SOME STATISTICS. 

The growth of the library is shown by the following sta- 
tistics reported to the Society from time to time : 





Total 


Total 






Total. 




Bound Volumes. 


Pamphlets, 




Manuscripts. 


1848 


650 


300 






800 


1849 


1000 


50 vols. 




950 


1850 


1163 


509 








1855 


2000 


2265 








18G0 


2514 


3420 








1865 


3354 


5499 








1881 


5,700 










1885 


7,491 


1674 


additions, 


1880- 


-84 


1890 


13,486 


11660 


" 


1885 


-90 


1895 


15,615 


5603 


" 


1891- 


-95 



A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE SOCIETY. 

Although the Society was pleasantly and commodiously 
situated in the rooms first provided in 1848, in the Newark 
Library Association's building, it was felt to be of. the 
greatest importance for its future and permanent welfare 
that it should, at the earliest practicable date, secure a 
fire-proof home of its own. Moreover, the Newark friends 
of the Society considered themselves morally bound to do 
what in them lay to that end, in view of the assurances 
which had been given when a majority of the members 
had voted in favor of locating the library in Newark. 3 The 
subject was first formally broached at the meeting on May 

3 Ibid., x., 11. 

4 Ibid.. X., 14; XIII., 72. The accumulations of books so overwhelmed our lim- 
ited quarters that in the winter of 1897-98 several wagon-loads were carried away 
and stored until such time as a new building should be provided for the library. 

i See Proceedings, -,'d Scries, I., 143. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 95 

20, 1852 — four years after the question of location had 
been finally settled — when Mr. Lucius D. Baldwin sug- 
gested that " it was manifest from the constantly increas- 
ing value of the library, manuscripts and other property, a 
fire proof building should be secured at as early a day as 
practicable." Mr. James Gore King offered a resolution: 
" That a special committee be appointed to enquire into the 
expediency and the cost of erecting a suitable fireproof 
edifice for the reception of the library and other property 
of the Society, and that they be authorized to confer with 
the municipal authorities on the subject." He spoke ear- 
nestly in favor of the project, and said " he stood ready to 
perform whatever might be his duty in the premises." Presi- 
dent Charles King, of Columbia College, remarked that 
" the Historical Society of New Jersey had found a home 
— an agreeable home, in Newark, and such a building as 
that proposed would render its sojourn here still pleasanter 
and more productive of beneficial results. It could not be 
doubted that a city so renowned for its intelligence and en- 
terprise would promptly cooperate with the members of 
the Society in rearing an edifice that would redound to its 
honor." Chief Justice Green, Richard S. Field and the 
President, ex-Chief Justice Hornblower, supported the 
resolution, which was adopted, and Messrs. Lucius D. 
Baldwin, Peter S. Duryee and John P. Jackson were ap- 
pointed the committee. 1 At the next meeting, September 
8, 1852, they reported that a suitable lot and edifice could 
be secured for about $8,000. The President and John R. 
Weeks were added to the Committee, which were authorized 
to procure subscriptions, and, when a sufficient sum should 
be subscribed, to purchase a site and report a plan of the 
proposed building, at the next meeting.'- Nothing having 
been accomplished in the ensuing four months, the Soci- 



1 Proceedings, VI.. 68. TO 71 (20, 32-23). 
•i Ibid.. 99, l(»ii. 



96 FIFTY YEARS OF 

ety, on January 20, 1853, requested the Committee "to 
proceed immediately to raise the necessary funds, by sub- 
scription." 1 Mr. L. D. Baldwin reported at the next meet- 
ing, May 19, 1853. that the Committee " was originally ap- 
pointed merely to report on the propriety and feasibility of 
the plan, a duty which they had performed," and he 
thought it better that the collection of funds should be as- 
signed to a new committee — which was done, Messrs. 
James G. King, Mahlon Dickerson, Peter S. Duryee, Wm. 
Nelson Wood, Richard S. Field, Stacy G. Potts and the 
Rev. A. B. Paterson being appointed. 3 The Committee 
immediately addressed circulars to the members and others 
interested ; the chairman subscribed $500, and agreed to 
double it if necessary, and three other subscriptions were 
received, amounting to $350, when the Committee report- 
ed to the Society, January 19, 1854. A severe loss had 
been sustained, in the interval, by the deaths of James 
Gore King and Mahlon Dickerson; William P. Robeson 
and Dudley S. Gregory were appointed to succeed them. 
It was voted, at the same time, that measures be taken to 
collect the unpaid dues of members, and that the amount 
collected be added to the subscriptions for the purchase of 
a site for a fire proof building. 3 At the next meeting, held 
at Newark, May 18, 1854, Mr. Peter S. Duryee reported 
that the Committee, after consultation with the officers of 
the Society, and others, had purchased a lot, 30x113 feet, 
on the north side of Park Church Place (now West Park 
street), one hundred feet west of Broad street, for $2,500, 
and that the subscriptions to the fund were already suffi- 
cient to pay for it. 4 The original subscription list contains 
the following names and amounts : 

1 Ibid.. 163. 

2 Ibid.. VII. , 4. 

3 Ibid., 52-53. 

4 The lot is part of a large tract purchased by the Trustees of the Park Presby- 
terian Congregation in Newark, in 1849. This lot was conveyed by said Trustees, 







sfa 



s& . 



/H^ O. 



A - 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 97 

Caleb O. Halsted, New York $100 

James G. King, Hudson county 500 

David A Hayes, Newark.. ... 250 

Helen Sfcuyvesant, New York. . 50 

Lewis M. Rutherfurd, New York 25 

Jacob D. Vermilyea, Newark 50 

Richard T. Haines, Elizabethtown 50 

Marcus L. Ward, Newaik 50 

John Kennedy, Belleville 25 

John R. Weeks, Newark 250 

Frederick T. Freliugbuysen, Newark 50 

James B. Pinueo, Newark 50 

Joseph N. Tuttle, Newark 50 

Matthias W. Day, Newark 50 

Solomon Alofsen, Jersey City '. 250 

Henry G. Darcy, Newark 50 

Nehemiah Perry, Newark 50 

John Rutherfurd, Hudosu county 50 

Caleb H. Shipman, Newark ... 100 

Peter S. Duryee, Newark 250 

William Rankin, Newark 100 

Thos. H. Stephens, Newark 50 

$2,450 
The Committee reported January 18, 1855, that the sub- 
scriptions amounted to $2,535. The purchase price, with 
interest, was $2,565.49, but the owner accepted $2,535 in 
full satisfaction. With this purchase of a site the project 
of securing a building rested for many years. It was pro- 
posed, May 15, 1856, to sell or exchange the lot; 1 in 1857 
there was talk of co-operating with the Park Presbyterian 
Church in the erection of a building for joint occupancy; 
in 1859 it was voted to raise money by subscription and 
mortgage to build; but as nothing came of this, in i860 a 

by deed dated Sept. 30, 1851, to Matthew Ely. for *180,) : and by Ely to William 
Rankin, by deed dated May 21, 1852, for $2000; and by William Rankin and wife to 
New Jersey Historical Society, by deed dated January Hi. 1855, for $2500. Sec Essex 
County Deeds. X 7. p. ^4: Z ?. p. 361 : 207, p. 55. These conveyances are in tee. with 
out limitations, restrictions or conditions of any kind. The subscriptions tor tie' 
purchase of the site for the Society were also unconditional, so tar as the records 

of the Society show. 

i [bid.. First Series, VIII., 35. 
13 



89 FIFTY YEARS OF 

lease of the lot was authorized. 1 The War coming on in 
1 861 , all action relative to a fire-proof home was deferred. 
In 1867 the sale or lease of the lot was authorized, but 
soon after a subscription for a building fund was started, 
and the subject of disposing of the lot was postponed, only 
to be revived in 1871. 3 The lot was subsequently leased 
for the term of five years, from April 1, 1874, for $400 per 
annum, increased in later renewals to $600, continued to 
this time. 3 Plans for a fireproof building on this site were 
submitted at the meeting of the Society at Newark, May 
19, 1887, a new movement was made toward raising funds, 
and the Executive Committee voted in February, 1889, to 
begin the construction about April 1, 1889. The needed 
funds not coming in as rapidly as expected, the project 
was delayed from time to time. In 1893 it was reported 
that $13,000 had been subscribed, contingent on $25,000 
being pledged. 4 In the meantime various suggestions were 
made, looking to the removal of the Society's collections 
to the new State House, at Trenton, or to the erection of a 
permanent home on the grounds of the Washington Asso- 
ciation, at Morristown, -1 or wherever it might be feasible to 
secure a suitable building, all of which were negatived. At 
the annual meeting of the Society, at Trenton, on January 
23, 1894, a new project was broached, by Mr. Charles 
Bradley, at whose suggestion a resolution was adopted, 
calling for the appointment of a special committee of five 
to ascertain and report on what terms, if any, the 
spacious and handsome building of the Newark Library 

1 Ibid., 62, 150; IX.. 29. 

2 Ibid., X.. 3. 25, 28, 142; Second Series. II., 100, 10 J. 

3 Proceedings. 2d Series. III.. 141. In the spring of 1808 the lot was leased for 
the term of fifteen years at a net rental of about $1,500 yearly. 

4 Proceedings, 2d Series, VIII.. 106: IX.. 111. 133: XL. 7. 

5 Messrs. Jonathan W. Roberts and Edmund D. Halsey. of Morristovvn. pledged 
their word that $50,000 or more would be forthcoming for the erection and main- 
tenance of a suitable building for the Society on the grounds of the Washington 
Association if this offer were accepted. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. qq 

Association could be bought for the Society. This 
was adopted, and Messrs. Charles Bradley, L. Spencer 
Goble, William R. Weeks, William Nelson and Garret 

D. W. Vroom were appointed the Committee. 1 Under 
the earnest leadership of the energetic chairman, the 
Committee lost no time in getting to work. It was ascer- 
tained that there were about 1300 shares of stock of the 
Library Association outstanding, held by about 400 per- 
sons, the par value being $25. Through personal solicita- 
tion 34 stockholders agreed to donate 147 shares to the 
Society, and 39 stockholders sold 105 shares at par. Cir- 
culars were sent to all the stockholders, explaining the ob- 
ject of the Committee, and a prompt and favorable response 
was elicited. To promote the success of the project it 
was voted, May 17, 1894, to give a Life Membership in the 
Society for every share of the stock mentioned donated to 
the Society. At this meeting Messrs. Ernest E. Coe and 
Francis M. Tichenor were added to the Committee. 3 By 
the following January the Society had acquired 113 shares 
of the stock, and in recognition of its interest Mr. Ernest 

E. Coe was elected a member of the Board of Directors, as 
a representative of this Society. 3 It is confidently believed 

1 Proceedings. '2d Series. XIII.. 12. 

2 Ibid.. XIII.. 68-69. 

•'• Ibid.. 130 131. In January. 1896. Mr. Charles Bradley was elected one of the 
Directors. When the annual meeting' ot stockholders of the Newark Library As- 
sociation was about to be held, in January. 1898. the New Jersey Historical Soci- 
ety owned more than one-third of the stock, and asked for a proportional repre- 
sentation in the Board of Directors, by the election of four members on the Hoard. 
There were some conferences to that end. but the gentlemen who had controlled 
the Board for many years declared that it would be indelicate for them to suggest 
to any two of their associates to retire, but if this Society could secure t wo \ acan- 
cies they would be perfectly willing to elect four represental ives of the Society on 
the Board: otherwise, they would vote to re-elect the old Board. The Society's 
representatives thereupon derided to nominate eight members of the Board of 
Directors. When the stockholders" meeting was held, the ticket nominated by 
the Society received a small majority of all the votes cast. The Directors' ticket 
contained thirteen names (including Messrs. Bradley and Coe, who were also on 
the other ticket), and these all received an equal number of votes. Theresultwas 
that only the eight members nominated in behalf of this Society receiveda major- 
ity of all the votes, and they alone were elected, leaving Ave vacancies. The 



L. of C. 



ioo Fifty years of 

by the gentlemen in charge of the movement that it will 
result in securing for this Society the property of the New- 
ark Library Association. 

The magnificent temple erected by Sir Christopher 
Wren makes a fitting setting to the other monuments en- 
shrined within its walls. They have been drawn thither 
because the home was worthy of them, and so architect 
and sculptor have been instrumental in creating the atmos- 
phere of hero worship, of Divine worship, which affects 
every visitor within those sacred walls. The priceless 
treasures bestowed upon the New Jersey Historical Soci- 
ety during the last half century are worthy of a home of 
their own, where they will be secure from loss, will be ac- 
cessible to every student, and where there will be ample 
room not only for what we have, but for what we hope to 
receive hereafter. Such a home, provided by the generos- 
ity of one man, of a doz^n men, or of a hundred, would be 
a worthy and enduring monument to their liberality. It 
wouid vastly increase the capacity of the Society for its 

Directors elected were: Charles Bradley, Ernest E. Coe. Theodore Coe, John R. 
Hardin, James E. Howell. Cyrus Peck. Chandler W. Riker. Francis M. Tichenor. 
At this writing (August, 1898). the Historical Society owns 550 of the 1289 shares 
of stock in the Newark Library Association, acquired largely by gift, and partly 
by purchase at par. $25. 

Mention may be made here of the munificent and most tempting offer received 
in May, 189(>, from the Trustees of Princeton University. This was to give the 
Society ample quarters for all its collections, and rooms for its meetings, in the 
magnificent new library building then in contemplation and since erected on the 
campus at Princeton, together with the services of an expert librarian to cata- 
logue and properly care for the library and other collections, this arrangement to 
be continued during the pleasure of the Society, the entire expense to be assumed 
by the University. The Executive Committee of the Society was so impressed 
with the unparalleled generosity of the offer, coupled as it was with assurances of 
large pecuniary aid toward the increase of the library, that it unanimously re- 
solved to recommend its acceptance, unless a more favorable proposition should 
bs made by Newark. A special meeting of the Society was held at Newark Oc- 
tober 14. 18915. to consider the terms offered by Princeton. In the meantime postal 
cards were mailed to all the members, stating the offer, and asking for a yea and 
nay vote. In response, about 425 members sent in replies, of whom a considerable 
majority voted to accept. About 150 members attended the meeting in Newark, 
and the Princeton offer was rejected by a large majority. Several prominent 
Newark friends of the Society confidently declared at this meeting that plans 
were already matured whereby the Society would be provided with a proper and 
permanent home in Newark. These plans, however, subsequently fell through. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. IOI 

chosen work. And what a grand consummation it would 
be for this semi-centennial celebration of the New Jersey 
Historical Society. 1 



PART IV. 
The Society's Publications. 

For out of old fieldes, as men saithe. 

Cometh all this new corne fro yere to yere, 
And out of old bookes, in good faithe, 

Cometh all this new science that men lere. 

—The Assembly of Foules. 

I. THE "PROCEEDINGS" OF THE SOCIETY. 
The great importance of keeping before the public the 
work and aims of the Society was fully recognized by the 
founders. Accordingly, at the meeting held at Burling- 
ton, May 7, 1846, the Rev. Dr. Murray, from the Commit- 
tee on Publications, presented the following resolutions, 
which were adopted : 

Resolved, That it is expedient a quarterly publication of the proceedings of the 
Society should be made under the direction of the Committee on Publications, 
comprising such letters and papers read before the Society, or extracts from 
them, as may be deemed of permanent interest— acknowledgments of donations 
received. &c. 

Resolved, That the said publication be commenced forthwith with the proceed- 
ings and papers of the last year— and that it be furnished to subscribers at $1, or 
non-subscribers at 37ii cents per number.2 

The title of the first number of the publication thus 
modestly ushered into the world was 

PROCEEDINGS 

OF THE 

NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Vol. I. 1845. No. 1. 



i The interest in the welfare of the Society, aroused by this celebration, un- 
doubtedly secured large contributions to its treasury, particularly for the Build- 
ing or Library Fund. 

2 Proceedings, I.. 128. 



102 FIFTY YEARS OF 

It was an octavo pamphlet of 62 pages, containing the , 
substance of the proceedings of the meetings held at Tren- 
ton January 13 and February 27, and at Newark May 7, ; 
together with selections from the correspondence, list of 
donations and donors, and a Discourse delivered before 
the Society May 7, 1845, by Charles King. Appended to 
this first number was a Prospectus, describing the plan of 
the publication. Each number was to contain from thirty 
to fifty pages, octavo, forming a volume each year of from 
150 to 200 pages; . . . "and it being the object of the 
Society to make the publication the means of diffusing in- 
teresting and valuable information and not a source of profit, 
it is intended that the quantity of matter in each number shall 
increase with the increase of patronage without any addi- 
tion to the price." The first number was issued during the - 
summer of 1846, but in announcing the fact, at the meet- 
ing held at Salem, September 3, 1846, the Committee on 
Publication expressed the hope " that the members gener- - 
ally will use their exertions to enlarge the subscription list ; 
at present there are not a sufficient number of subscribers 
to warrant its continuance." 1 On May 27, 1847, tne Com- 
mittee on Publication reported that the first volume of the 
Proceedings, down to and including the meeting held at 
Salem Sept. 3, 1846, had been issued, 200 pages, "but a 
great increase of subscribers is actually necessary to sus- 
tain it." 2 It was resolved to continue the publication, and 
" that the members generally are invited and expected to 
act as Agents in extending its circulation." 3 At the meet- 
ing held January 20, 1848, the Committee reported that 
three numbers of the second volume had been issued (em- 
bracing the transactions down to and including June 25, 
1847), and that the fourth number, completing the volume, 



1 Ibid.. I., 175. 

2 MS. Minutes. 

3 Proceedings, II.. 71. 



HISTORICAL WOItK IN NEW JERSEY. IO3 

was in the press. The Committee regretted, however, 
" that this important publication is not sufficienily support- 
ed. They deem its continuance greatly desirable. It is a 
medium of communication with other Societies, and with 
all our donors throughout the country." The Committee 
was thereupon "authorized and directed to send a copy of 
our quarterly publication to each member of the Society; 
and that all such as do not return the same shall be con- 
sidered as subscribers to it." 1 This plan worked very well, 
so far as the circulation was concerned, but pecuniarily was 
by no means successful, the Committee reporting, January 
18, 1849, that " $350 was due from those who had received 
the last two volumes. " 2 A year later the arrears amounted 
to $500, although the interest and value of the publication 
were generally recognized 3 In speaking of the unfavor- 
able financial conditions attending the publication, the 
Hon. William A. Duer remarked, in behalf of the Com- 
mittee, May 16, 1850, that "its continuation seemed actu- 
ally necessary to the welfare of the Society, and it was 
proper to consider whether it should become a tax upon 
the general treasury, and be gratuitously distributed to the 
paying members, or continue to be issued under existing 
regulations." 4 Although the indebtedness continued to in- 
crease on this account, the original plan was pursued for 
several years longer/ 1 " It would seem to be the duty of 
the Society," said the Committee in a report September 
12, 1850, "to disseminate as widely as possible the his- 
torical information it may gather through the agency of its 
members. . . . The collection of rare works for its 
library . . . was in reality less likely to promote a knowl- 

1 Ibid.. III.. 4. A printed slip containing this resolution was inserted in the 
next number of the Proceedings sent to members. 
- [bid., III.. 58, 123, Hi:!. 
s ibid., IV.. 3. mi. in. 
t ibid.. V . 2. 
1 Ibid.. V.. 158; VI.. -.'. 50, 67. 



104 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



edge of the history of the State than the publication of" 
the material it accumulated. 1 At the meeting May 19, 
1853, the Committee reported $400 due on account of 
copies of the Proceedings sent out and not paid for, and 
recommended that thereafter the "Periodical" should 
not be "sent to any person unless previously paid for, 
and that resident paying members, not in arrears, and 
those that shall hereafter be elected, shall on the payment 
of their annual dues receive the numbers for the year 
without charge ; and to such members, the back volumes, 
and to the Honorary, Corresponding, and Life Members, 
the future volumes, shall be furnished at their cost price." 
The Committee was also authorized to direct the number 
of copies to be printed, and to prescribe the frequency of 
the publication. 2 The Society decided, May 18, 1854, to 
pay out of its treasury $309 55 to meet the deficiency so 
far incurred by the Committee, and that thereafter the ex- 
pense of printing the Proceedings should be charged to the 
general fund of the Society, and credit given that fund for 
all proceeds of sales. 3 Such has been the system pursued 
ever since. 

From the beginning, the " Proceedings " of the New Jer- 
sey Historical Society were extremely interesting and val- 
uable. As is the rule with similar publications, the " Pro- 
ceedings " were by no means a transcript of the minutes of 
the Society. Instead, merely the substance was given of 
the actual routine business, interspersed with the extem- 
poraneous remarks frequently made at the meetings, giving 
information of a most varied character; the reports, reso- 
lutions and discussions; the more important letters re- 
ceived ; lists of donors and donations, and selections from 
the ever accumulating store of documents, diaries, journals 

1 Ibid., V., 40. 

2 Ibid., VII.. 3. 

3 Ibid., VII.. 86 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. IO5 

and other manuscripts acquired by the Society. A set of 
these Proceedings is indispensable to the student who 
would become familiar with the history of New Jersey, and 
with the lives of many of its public men. This publication 
now comprises ten volumes in the First Series, 1845— 1866, 
and thirteen volumes in the Second Series, 1867-1895, 
making about five thousand pages in all. 1 

II. THE " COLLECTIONS." 

The work prepared by Mr. William A. Whitehead even 
before the Society was organized, wherein he traced the 
history of " East Jersey under the Proprietary Govern- 
ments," was brought to the attention of the Society at its 
meeting May 7, 1845, an< ^ the author was requested to 
permit it to be published under the sanction of the Soci- 
ety. ~ This was done, the work being issued in January, 
1846, and by May was nearly all disposed of, the treasury 
being refunded the entire amount advanced for its publica- 
tion. 3 

The Hon. William A. Duer having stated, May 7, 1845, 
that he had in his possession valuable original papers of 
Lord Stirling, copies of which he would furnish to the So- 
ciety, did his engagements allow, Mr. James Gore King 
caused copies to be made at his own expense, and pre- 
sented them at the meeting September 4, 1845, in a large 
volume containing transcripts of more than three hundred 
letters and papers of dates between 1754— 1783. 4 This 
material was promptly utilized by Mr. Duer in the prepar- 
ation of a " Life of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling," 
which was published early in 1847, as Vol. II. of the So- 

1 Of all our contemporaries the Massachusetts Historical Society alone issues 
" Proceedings" at all comparahle with those of this Society. The New York His- 
torical Society discontinued a similar publication thirty y< ars or more ago. 

- Proceedings, I., 10-11. 

8 Ibid., I., 98, 116. 128. A. second edi ion was issued in 1874, without expense to 
Hi. Society. Ibid., 2d Series, IV.. 51. 

4 [bid., I., in. 66. 
14 



106 FIFTY YEARS OF 

ciety's Collections. 1 Unfortunately, the work was compiled 
without due diligence in searching for additional material. 
After it was issued Judge Duer learned that several hun- 
dred more letters and documents of Lord Stirling were in 
the New York Historical Society. He caused copies to be 
made, and deposited with this Society. 3 Some of them 
were subsequently given in the Proceedings. 3 

The Society was entertained and instructed by Richard 
S. Field, who read a paper, January 20, 1848, on "The es- 
tablishment and progress of Courts, and the peculiarities 
of the administration of Justice in the provinces of East 
and West Jersey." At the next meeting, May 25, 1848, he 
pursued the subject with a " Paper on the Bench and Bar of 
New Jersey previous to the Revolution." By request, Mr. 
Field placed his MS. at the disposal of the Society, which 
authorized its publication as a third volume of Collections. 
It appeared early in 1849, under the title "The Provincial 
Courts of New Jersey, with Sketches of the Bench and 
Bar." 4 

A Letter-Book of Lewis Morris, Governor of New Jer- 
sey, 1738— 1746, containing copies of official and private 
letters written by him, from May, 1739, to February, 1744, 
while holding that office, was presented to the Society, 
November 6, 1845, by the Rev. Robert Davidson, D. D., of 
New Brunswick. At the same meeting the Society was 
made the recipient, through Lieut. Charles S. Boggs, 
U. S. N., 5 of a collection of about 100 MSS. of Gov. Morris, 
1730-1746; of one of the Governor's Letter Books, Jan- 
uary, 1744, to March, 1746; and of a collection of about 

1 Mr. Whitehead's letter (in my possession) to the Clerk of the U. S. District 
Court for New Jersey, transmitting the title page, for copyright, is dated Janu- 
ary 4. IS 17. 

2 Ibid., II.. 65, 76 ; III.. 161, 164. 170. 

3 Ibid., V.. 175-196 : VI., 41 48. o6-64, 93-96. 

4 Ibid.. III.. 11. 63. 123-4. 163. 

5 Afterwards distinguished in the Rebellion as one of the most gallant of the 
Union officers. He was made Rear Admiral in 1870. He was a descendant of Gov- 
Morris, 




RICHARD S. FltLD 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. IO7 

100 MSS. of Robert Hunter Morris, 1750-1756. ! These 
papers were placed in the hands of Mr. Whitehead, who 
arranged them for publication, with a preliminary memoir 
of Gov. Morris, and the Society on September 11, 1851, 
authorized their issue in another volume of the Collec- 
tions, which was published in the spring of 1852, under the 
title, "The Papers of Lewis Morris, Governor of the. 
Province of New Jersey, from 1738 to IJ46.'" 2 

Of Volume V. of the Collections I shall speak later. 

The sixth volume had its origin in the following resolu- 
tion, offered by David A. Hayes, and adopted at the meet- 
ing of the Society at Newark, May 20, 1852: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Publications bs authorized to apply to the 
Common Council of the City of Newark for permission to publish such of the early 
manuscript Records and other documents in their possession, illustrating the 
history of the City and State, which may be of interest: and should the request 
be granted, that they proceed to publish the same as one of the volumes of the 
Society's Collections, whenever placed in funds for the purpose, by private sub- 
script inn or otherwise. 

" Mr. Hayes stated that these records were of great 
value, and that measures should be taken to preserve them 
from destruction. They were already to some extent de- 
faced, and as only one copy existed, some accident might 
forever destroy the sources of most of our knowledge re- 
specting the settlement and early history of this portion of 
the State. He felt authorized to say that there were indi- 
viduals ready to relieve the Society of the expense of pub- 
lishing the work." 3 The Newark Common Council promptly 
acquiesced in the Society's suggestion, and caused the 
transcribing to be undertaken at the city's expense. 4 The 
work proceeded in so leisurely a fashion that it was not 
until May 15, 1856, that the Committee on Publications 
were able to report that the copy had been completed, and 
" placed in the hands of Mr. Samuel H. Congar, the Libra- 

1 Ibid., I., 99, 112, li:!: IV.. -21. 

■■; Ibid., Y.. 10-41, 158; VI., 2, 3, 50, 19 (67). 

8 Proceedings, VI., 21 (69). 

i [bid, VII.. 51. 



IOS FIFTY YEARS OF 

rian, whose thorough acquaintance with the localities and 
genealogies of this portion of the State, particularly qual- 
ifies him for the task of preparing the records for the press. 
Such notes and explanations will be appended as might be 
necessary for their proper elucidation." 1 No progress hav- 
ing been made in the meantime toward the publication, 
Mr. Hayes brought up the subject at the meeting of the 
Society on May 19, 1859, and on his motion Messrs. 
Hayes, Staats S. Morris, Peter S. Duryee, Henry G. Darcy 
and Silas Merchant were appointed a committee to procure 
funds wherewith to publish the volume.- The committee 
failed to act, however, although gently reminded of its 
duty from time to time, but on January 15, 1863, in re- 
sponse to a hint of the kind, Mr. Hayes said that "so soon 
as estimates of cost could be obtained they would be pre- 
pared to go forward and collect the funds for publishing 
the Records." 3 At the next meeting, May 21, 1863, it was 
reported that the special committee was receiving subscrip- 
tions for the proposed volume, at $2 per copy. 4 It was a 
year later — May 19, 1S64 — ere the book was actually in 
the press, 5 and several months elapsed before it appeared — 
more than twelve years after its publication had been de- 
cided upon. For some reason, Mr. Congar's contemplated 
notes were omitted, and his work was limited to the proof- 
reading, the actual preparation of the volume for the print- 
er devolving on Mr. Whitehead, who prefixed an introduc- 
tion, and added a table of town officers. The Newark city 
authorities, who had several years before made appropria- 
tions for printing the volume, now subscribed for one hun- 
dred copies ; private citizens contributed toward the cost, 
and thus the Society was practically relieved from all ex- 

1 Ibid.. VII., 86; VIII. . 34. 

2 Ibid., VIII., 153. 

3 Ibid.. IX.. 25, 103, 136 

4 Ibid.. 152. 

5 Ibid.. 196. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. IO9 

pense in the publication.' It would be well if other cities 
and counties would imitate the example set by Newark, in 
publishing their early official records.' 2 

When the Society met at Newark, on May 18, 1865, 
Mr. Whitehead reminded the members that the two hun- 
dredth anniversary of the founding of that city would occur 
a year hence, and on his motion the Executive Committee, 
in conjunction with the officers of the Society, was re- 
quested to adopt such measures as might be necessary to 
celebrate that event in a proper manner. The celebration 
occurred May 17, 1866, the city authorities co-operating 
with the Society. The exercises included a historical 
memoir by William A. Whitehead ; a commemoration 
oration, by William B. Kinney, and a poem by Dr. Thomas 
Ward. These were published, together with Genealogical 
Notes of the First Settlers, by Samuel H. Congar, in a 
Supplement to Vol. VI. of the Collections.^ 

The late Judge L. Q. C. Elmer favored the Society upon 
January 20 and May 19, 1870, with portions of a work 
which he had prepared, embodying his personal views of 
men and things, particularly in relation to the bench and 
bar of New Jersey. The paper read by him at the latter 
meeting was published under the title of " History of the 
Constitution of New Jersey, adopted 1776, and the Gov- 

i Ibid.. IX.. 106; X.,2. 

- Tlic minutes of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Passaic, 
1887-1870, were published in 1875. The official ••Records of the Township of Pater- 
son. 1831-1851," were published in 1895. with the laws relating to the township, ex- 
tracts from contemporary newspapers, and notes, forming an octavo volume of 
333 pages, including index. 

Tin- old Middletown (Monmouth County) Town Book, containing the records 
from December 30, 1667, to August 89, 1694, was printed about 1886 by Major James 
S. Yard, of Freehold, in his paper, the Monmouth Democrat, and afterwards in 
pamphlet form. This book contains the records of the first popular government 
in Monmouth County, and in many respects is a most valuable contribution to the 
early history of New Jersey. 

The substance of the Woodbridge Town Records is given in Daily's History of 
Woodbridge. 

■'• [bid., X.. 4i». (><>. 162-3, 165; Second Series. I.. IS. 



HO FIFTY YEARS OF 

ernment Under It." 1 He intimated his willingness to have 
his work published as one of the volumes of the Collec- 
tions of the Society. Some months later, however, the 
Committee on Publications announced that Judge Elmer 
had relinquished his intention of furnishing the Society 
with his work. He subsequently changed his determina- 
tion not to proceed with the preparations of his reminis- 
cences, and it was reported to the Society, May 18, 1871, 
that the work would probably be completed in the course 
of two or three months. The Committee was thereupon 
authorized and requested to take immediate steps for its 
publication as a volume of the Society's Collections. A 
year later the Committee reported that a favorable arrange- 
ment had been made with Martin R. Dennis, of Newark, 
for the publication of the work without expense to the 
Society, and at the following meeting, May 16, 1872, it 
was stated that the book had been published and had met 
with a very satisfactory reception from the public. :: It is 
an extremely interesting and gossipy account of times 
familiar to Judge Elmer, and there is a refreshing candor 
in his expression of his personal opinions of men and 
events. 

Referring to the publishing work of the Society, the 
Committee on Publications, in their report made January 
19, 1 87 1 , said: "The Historical Society is only half per- 
forming its functions if it is satisfied with merely collecting 
materials for history. It should consider it equally ob- 
ligatory to disseminate to as great an extent as possible, 
through the agency of the press, the knowledge that it has 
collected. While we can point with satisfaction to what 
we have done in fulfillment of both these obligations, it is 
to be hoped that there will be no disposition evinced to 

1 Proceedings, 2d Series. II.. 6, 59, 133-153. 

2 Ibid., II., 58. 101, 156-7. 170; III.. 2. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. Ill 

abate our endeavor to increase the number of printed 
pages " l 

Unfortunately, the very excellent advice given by the 
Committee has not been followed with the assiduity that 
characterized the Society in its earlier days, when a vol- 
ume of Collections was issued every year or twc. For 
twenty-three years no additions have been made to this 
valuable series. 

At the meeting in Newark, May 20, 1880, a resolution 
was adopted, offered by Martin J. Ryerson, of Blooming- 
dale, that the Rev. Garret C. Schenck, of Marlboro, be re- 
quested to furnish the Society with a copy of his History 
of Pompton Plains 2 Dr. Schenck had been for many years 
pastor of the Reformed (Dutch) Church at Pompton 
Plains, and had gathered a large amount of material relat- 
ing to the history of that locality, part of which was em- 
bodied, through his kindness, in a sermon by the Rev. 
George J. Van Neste, of Little Falls, in 1866. At the 
meeting of the Society, January 20, 1881, a letter was pre- 
sented from Dr. Schenck promising compliance with the 
request for his history. 8 More than two years later — May 
18, 1882 — a letter was received from him regretting that 
he had been unable to complete his paper on the History 
of Pompton Plains. 4 

The Committee on Library reported to the Society, 
January 25, 1887, that the "manuscript history of the 
' Farly Settlement and Settlers of Pompton Plains,' by the 
Rev. Garret C. Schenck, had been presented by the author 
to the Society. A strong desire to have it published was 
manifested, and offers to take from six to twenty-five 
copies were made by several. The Committee recom- 

1 Proceedings. 2d Series, 11.. 102. 
- [bid., VI., 92. 
: [bid., VI.. ill. 
1 Ibid., VII., 62 



112 FIFTY YEARS OF 

mended that some action be taken in the matter." The 
manuscript was referred to the Committee on Publications 
with power to publish it on such terms as might be mu- 
tually agreeable to the Society and the author, without in- 
curring any debt on the part of the Society The Com- 
mittee on Publications reported, May 17, 1888, having ar- 
ranged with Joel Munsell's Sons at Albany to print the 
book, the publishers agreeing to print it and to give the 
Society one hundred copies without cost, provided one 
hundred subscriptions at $4 per copy were obtained. The 
Committee issued a circular soliciting subscriptions, but 
up to the present time not more than fifty or sixty copies 
of the work have been subscribed for. 1 In the meantime, 
the venerable author passed away, shortly after having 
presented his valuable work, upon which he had spent 
thirty years of his life, to the Society. 2 

III. THE "NEW JERSEY ARCHIVES." 

I have already intimated that the effort to secure copies 
of the documents in European archives relating to New 
Jersey history had an important influence in leading ur. to 
the organization of the Historical Society. At one of the 
earliest meetings of the Society, November 6, 1845, 
Messrs. William A. Whitehead, Stacy G. Potts and Rich- 
ard S. Field were appointed a committee " to present a 
memorial to the Legislature, in behalf of the Society, ask- 
ing for the adoption of such measures as may be necessary 
to secure to the State copies of all historical documents of 
importance for the full illustration of our past history, that 
may be in the possession of the other States of the Union, 
— and also the requisite measures for obtaining accurate 
information regarding the character, number, and place of 

1 Ibid.. IX.. 111. 1:26: X.. 50, 123. 

2 In 1898 the Committee on Printing was authorized by the Board of Trustees to 
solicit new bids for the printing- of this work, and there is reason to hope that it 
may be published within the next year, forming Volume VIII. of the "Collections.' 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 113 

deposit of the documents in the English archives referring 
to our Colonial History; and also of the probable expense 
of obtaining copies thereof for the use of the State." 1 Such 
was the origin of the Committee on Colonial Documents, 
which has accomplished so much for the Society and the 
State, in procuring the printing of our Archives. This 
Committee presented to the Legislature a memorial calling 
attention to the similar work which had been undertaken 
by the State of New York, and secured the reference of the 
document to a special committee of the Legislature, which 
on February 19, 1846, made a very elaborate and extreme- 
ly interesting report, but without effect. At the meeting 
of the Society on May 27, 1847, tne Committee on Colon- 
ial Records submitted a resolution for the appointment of 
"a committee of seven to obtain subscriptions to procure an 
analytical index to documents in English archives relating 
to New Jersey, and when the funds should be obtained, 
that the committee adopt means to secure said list or in- 
dex and such other information in relation to the papers 
as may be of service to the Society and individuals." 
Messrs. William A. Whitehead, Charles King, Prof. John 
Maclean of Princeton, the Right Rev. George W. Doane of 
Burlington, the Rev. Daniel V. McLean of Freehold, Isaac 
Mickle of Camden and R. B. Thompson of Salem, were 
appointed the committee. J They reported two years later 
— May 17, 1849 — that they had solicited subscriptions, and 
James Gore King, William A. Whitehead and Peter S. 
Duryee were appointed a committee to take charge of the 
work. 3 Mr. King reported, Sept. 13, 1849, tnat $600 
would be necessary to carry into effect the purposes of the 
committee; of this sum, $535 had been subscribed and 
$485 collected. The committee had engaged the services 

1 Proceedings, 1.. 99. 
- Proceedings, 11.. ~\. 
■■ Ibid., IV.. 3. 



114 FIFTY YEARS OF 

of Mr. Henry Stevens, United States Despatch Agent in Lon- 
don, who had made considerable progress in obtaining ab- 
stracts of about seven hundred papers relating to New Jer- 
sey in the English Public Record Office, of dates between 
1664 and 1714 1 Mr. Duryee reported in behalf of the 
committee, January 17, 1850, that excellent progress had 
been made by Mr. Stevens. Messrs. Richard S. Field, 
the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray, William A. Whitehead and 
Stacy G. Potts were appointed a committee to draw up a 
memorial to the Legislature, urging prompt attention to 
the matter, but this effort also failed of success. 2 Mr. 
James Gore King, from the committee charged with the 
management of the Colonial Document Fund, stated at the 
meeting of the Society, September 11, 1851, that "there 
had been received from Mr. Henry Stevens nine volumes 
of a historical index of New Jersey Colonial Documents, 
embracing the period from March 12, 1664. to December 
23, 1775, each volume containing two hundred manuscript 
cards, or 1800 in all. On each card was a reference to 
the particular place where each document was to be found, 
together with its date." 8 The "volumes" referred to were 
portfolios or cases, in shape and size resembling small 
quarto volumes, bound in blue morocco, appropriately let- 
tered on the back, each portfolio having a lock and key. 
They were greatly admired by the members then, 4 as they 
have been since. Mr. King again reported, May 20, 1852, 
that "the whole amount to be paid Mr. Stevens for procuring 
the Analytical Index had been remitted to him, and it was 
expected that the supplementary matter and the preface to 
be prepared by him would be completed by the middle of 
June." The Legislature had made an appropriation for 
the purchase of a number of the volumes. The Society 
thereupon authorized the Committee on Publications to 

1 Ibid.. IV.. 102. 2 Ibid.. IV.. 145-6. 

3 Ibid., VI.. 3-5. 4 Ibid.. VI.. 51. 



HISTORICAL WOHK IN NEW JERSEY. I I 5 

have the work printed, and to fix a subscription price for 
it. 1 It was nearly two years later before Mr. Stevens com- 
pleted his transcripts, on presenting which to the Society, 
January 19, 1854, the Committee on Colonial Docu- 
ments was discharged, at its own request, having com- 
pleted its work;- The editing and preparation of the com- 
pilation having been entrusted to Mr. William A. White- 
head, he sent out a circular to numerous public officials 
and private citizens, soliciting information as to the 
nature and contents of historical documents in their custody 
or possession, with a view to incorporating the same in the 
proposed volumes, but this meeting with little or no re- 
sponse he personally analyzed and indexed such collections 
as were readily accessible, thus adding summaries of about 
500 documents. 3 To facilitate his work, an appeal was 
made to the Governor, who recommended to the Legis- 
lature (in 1856) the appointment of committees in the 
several counties, to examine and report on the condition 
of the public records. A joint resolution for the purpose, 
after passing the Assembly unanimously, received but three 
votes in the Senate. 4 At the Society's meeting at Newark, 
May 21, 1857, the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray, from the 
Committee on Publications, reported that " the fifth 
volume of the ' Collections ' of the Society, the publication 
of which has been so long delayed by various causes, will 

1 Ibid., VI., 66. 

- [bid., VII., 51-52. 

8 [bid., VII., 131. 

4 Ibid., VIII.. 6, 34,35*, 60. The Legislature of I898enacte 1 a law (drafted by the 
author of this address) authorizing the Governor to appoint a Public Records Com- 
mission, to consist of three members, to investigate and report to theGovernor 
from time to time on the character and condition of the public records in the 
archives of the state and t '(unities. Governor John W. Griggs appointed William 
Nelson of Paterson, General Williams. Strykerof Trenton, and Henry S. Haines 
of Burlington as the Commission. They made their llrst report to' lovemor Foster 
M. Voorhees in April, 1898. This report embraced a description of the records in 
the Secretary of State's offl :e, at Trenton, with some excerpts indicating their con 
bents; a bibliography of the laws and Legislative journals prior to 1801. and an ac- 
count of the laws and Legislative journals in the state Library and elsewhere. 



I I 6 FIFTY YEARS OF 

soon be ready for the press, and prove, it is thought, a 
welcome and valuable addition to the historical literature 
of the State and country ; for although only an Index to the 
Colonial Documents of New Jersey, it will be found to 
furnish a large amount of information to which access has 
not before been had, and materially assist the historical 
student in his researches " The Society thereupon au- 
thorized the Committee to proceed with the publication of 
the work as soon as a sufficient number of subscriptions 
should be obtained to warrant the expense. 1 The Com- 
mittee reported, January 21, 1858, that the volume "was 
about being put to press," and at the meeting of the 
Society, May 20, 1858, it was announced that the work 
was about to be published, and a few copies were sub- 
mitted for the examination of the members. 2 The Hon. 
William L. Dayton announced, in behalf of the Committee, 
January 20, 1859, that " the Fifth Volume of the Collections 
of the Society, which was on the eve of publication when 
the last meeting was held, had been since distributed to the 
subscribers and placed for sale in the usual depositories for 
such works. It had received a very general commenda- 
tion." The sales " had enabled the Committee to meet the 
expense of the publication without encroaching materially 
upon the limited sum in the treasury." 3 

Such was the history of Volume V. of our Collections — 
" An Analytical Index to the Colonial Documents of New 
Jersey," a stout octavo, published in 1858. In the preface 
Mr. Whitehead detailed the efforts to secure Legislative sup- 
port for the procurement of records from England bear- 
ing on our history, or even to complete the laws and Legis- 
lative journals, and the efforts which finally secured, mainly 
by private generosity, this work. He added an account 

1 Ibid.. VIII.. 60-61. 

2 Ibid.. VIII . 90. 114 

3 Ibid.. VIII.. 139. 




NATHANIEL NILES 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. Iiy 

by Mr. Henry Stevens, of the nature and location of the 
records in question. In an appendix was given a rough- 
list of printed books, compiled by Mr. Stevens, relating to 
the early history of New Jersey, to which Mr. Whitehead 
annexed a partial list of New Jersey newspapers prior to 
1800, and notices of the public records in Essex county. 
The volume was and still is a highly creditable work, and 
possesses a permanent value. 

Its main interest, in the present connection, lies in the 
fact that it prepared the way for that stately series of 
volumes known as the " New Jersey Archives." It was 
fourteen years from the time Mr. Whitehead first attempted 
to enlist public interest in the importance of securing from 
the English State Paper offices the documents relating to 
our early history, until he saw through the press this Ana- 
lytical Index to those documents. He never lost sight of 
the matter, but it was fourteen years later ere his heart was 
gladdened by an act of the Legislature appropriating $3,000 
for the desired end. 

In 1870 the original manuscript Journal of the Governor 
and Council of New Jersey, 1682- 1703, which had been 
missing for many years, was restored to the State Library. 1 
A bright young newspaper man, F. L. Lundy, of Morris- 
town, wrote up graphic accounts of the quaint and most val- 
uable old volume, which were widely published. He also 
described the oldest volume of minutes of the House of 
Assembly, 1703-1709, and a manuscript volume containing 
the Journal of the Council of Safety, 1777- 1778, which 
came to light at the same time. The Hon. Nathaniel 
Niles, member of the Assembly from Morris county, in- 
stantly perceived the interest of these precious manu- 
scripts, and as they had once been lost and might be 
again, he conceived the idea that they ought to be printed, 
both to preserve their contents for all time, and to make 

N. .1. Ajchives, XIII.. Preface. 



I iS FIFTY YEARS OF 

them more generally available for the use of historical 
students. Accordingly, he secured the passage of an act 
entitled " An act for the better preservation of the early 
records of the State of New Jersey," which was approved 
by Governor Theodore F. Randolph, April 6, 1871. 1 This 
act authorized the Commissioners of the State Library to 
print and distribute the three manuscripts above described. 
This was done in 1872. 

About this time Mr. Niles accidentally met with one of 
the messages of Governor Haines sent to the Legislature 
in 1844 or 1845, in which he recommended an appropria- 
tion of three hundred dollars for the purpose of obtaining 
some account of the documents in the English Public 
Record Offices, relating to the history of our State. Mr. 
Niles was now Speaker of the Assembly. His quick fancy 
caught at the Governor's suggestion ; his youthful enthu- 
siasm — which he has always retained — was so contagious 
as to be irresistible ; and with his winning manner and 
the prestige of his position he succeeded in accom- 
plishing what had been vainly attempted at a score 
of previous sessions of the Legislature. He drafted, 
and through his efforts there was passed a Supple- 
ment to the " Act for the better preservation of the 
early records of the State of New Jersey," which had been 
enacted in 1871. This Supplement, approved March 29, 
1872 (Pamphlet Laws, 1872, p. 59), appropriated three 
thousand dollars " to procure copies of colonial documents, 
papers, and minutes of council, directly referring to the 
history of East and West Jersey and of New Jersey, now 
on file in the State Paper Office in London, England, the 
said documents, papers and pamphlets to be procured and 
said sum to be expended under the direction of the New 
Jersey Historical Society, and paid to them by the 
Treasurer of this State, on their order, for that purpose, 

1 Pamphlet Laws, 1871. p. 100. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 119 

the same to be placed in the State Library." The Society 
at once appointed Speaker Nathaniel Niles, ex Governor 
Daniel Haines, Governor Joel Parker and William A. 
Whitehead a Committee to procure the documents referred 
to. The selection of these papers was greatly simplified 
and facilitated by the Analytical Index, printed by the 
Society in 1858. 

Mr. Henry Stevens, of London, was promptly engaged 
to secure the desired transcripts, which he forwarded to 
the Society from time to time in handsome and durable 
portfolios. By a supplement, approved March 5, 1874 
( Pamphlet Laws, 1874, p. 29), an additional appropriation 
of $3, coo was made to procure copies of such documents 
and papers which might be found in the record offices or 
'here. Another supplement, approved March 27, 
1878 (Pamphlet Laws, 1878, p. 191), appropriated one 
thousand dollars " to procure copies of all papers now in 
the Public Record Offices of England, or elsewhere, refer- 
ring to the history of New Jersey, and which are not now 
in the possession of this State; the said sum hereby ap- 
propriated, and any sum heretofore appropriated for this 
purpose, to be expended under the direction of the 
Historical Society of New Jersey, in obtaining, arranging, 
collating and printing the said papers.'" This was the 
first authority that had been given to the Society to print 
these records. When at last, after more than thirty years 
of persistent effort on Mr. Whitehead's part, the material 
was in hand and the fund available for printing a volume of 
original records relating to the early history of the State, 
he was gratified beyond expression. 

The duty of editing and preparing the documents for 
the press was, at the request of the Society, assigned to 
Mr. Whitehead — a fitting recognition of his pre-eminent 
fitness for the task. Then came the serious question, How 
should the series be entitled? After the " Pennsylvania 



120 FIFTY YEARS OF 

Colonial Records?" or the " Documents relative to the 
Colonial History of the State of New York?" or the " Penn- 
sylvania Archives?" I recollect well the grave solicitude 
he expressed as he appealed to me for my opinion on this 
problem — an appeal that was flattering to one so much 
younger in years and wisdom — and the pleasure with which 
he caught at the suggestion to combine the titles used by 
both our sister states, labeling the volumes on the outside, 
" New Jersey Archives," with the fuller title page, " Docu- 
ments relating to the Colonial History of the State of New 
Jersey," used also as a sub-title on the back. Then there 
was another question : Should his name appear on the title 
page as editor, without any indication of his qualifications? 
or, should there be appended a list of some of his works, 
to indicate to the world of letters that he had some pre- 
paratory fitness to undertake the editing of a work of this 
magnitude? My own judgment was that his fame was al- 
ready sufficient to justify his selection, but his modesty led 
him to doubt this, and to vindicate his choice by the 
State and the Society he added to his name the titles of 
his principal historical pubiications. 

Volume I. of the New Jersey Archives, First Series, 
1636-16S7, was issued in 1880. It was evident that 
more money would be needed at an early day, to con- 
tinue the work, and the writer, after consultation with 
Mr. Whitehead, drafted a further Supplement to the 
Act of 1871, and saw it through the Legislature (ap- 
proved March 24, 1881, Pamphlet Laws, 1881, p. 206), 
appropriating $3,000 annually for three years, to be 
expended in procuring copies of all papers relating to the 
early history of New Jersey, " and for arranging, collating, 
editing and printing the same." The latter clause was in- 
serted to set at rest any question as to the authority, under 
the previous acts, to allow compensation to the editor. 1 

1 Since 1893 no payments have been made for editorial services, the work being 
done gratuitously by one of the officers of the Society. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 121 

With the funds thus made available the following volumes 
were printed : 

Vol. II. 16871703, in 1881. 

Vol III. 1703-1709, in 1881. 

Vol. IV. 1709-1720, in 1882. 

Vol. V. 1720-1737, in 1882. 

Vol. VI. 1738- 1747, in 1882. 

Vol. VII. 1746-175 1 , in 1883. 

The funds having been exhausted, another appeal was 
made to the Legislature, which by a Supplement to the 
Act of 1871, approved May 13, 1884 (Pamphlet Laws, 
1 884, p 340), appropriated $3,000 annually for three years, 
to continue the work. 

Owing to the failing health of Mr. Whitehead, Volume 
VIII. was not printed until after his death, in 1885. It 
was issued under the supervision of Judge Frederick W. 
Ricord, the Librarian of the Society. Mr. Whitehead had 
prepared the copy, but the portion beginning in 1751 had 
got misplaced and was overlooked by Judge Ricord until 
considerable progress was made with the printing. This 
accounts for the division of the volume into two Parts, the 
material for Part I. having been discovered after Part II. 
was nearly through the press. The subsequent volumes 
appeared thus : 

Vol. IX. 1757-1767, in 1886. 

Vol. X 1767-1776, in 1886. 

General Index, Vols. I.-X , in 1888. 

In 1888 the Legislature appropriated $3,000 annually 
for five years " to enable the New Jersey Historical Society 
to complete the work of procuring material for, arranging, 
collating, editing and printing the Journals of the Governor 
and Council during the Colonial Period, and for arranging, 
collating, editing and printing papers and documents re- 
lating to the history of New Jersey during the period of 
the Revolution." (Act approved March 26, 1 888, Pamph 
L6 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 12"} 

The New Jersey Archives form one of the most valuable 
contributions extant to the history of our country, and con- 
stitute a splendid monument to the intelligent liberality of 
our Legislature, which has thus preserved for all time the 
priceless records of and relating to our State. 1 

Of the Committee on Colonial Documents originally ap- 
pointed in 1872, and under whose supervision these vol- 
umes have been issued, there is but one survivor — Na- 
thaniel Niles, who established the invaluable precedent of 
the first appropriation, of $3,000, in the year just named. 
Ex-Governor Marcus L. Ward, of Newark, was placed on 
the Committee, January 17, 1878, to succeed ex-Governor 
Daniel Haines, of Hamburg, deceased."- When Governor 
Ward died, April 24, 1884, your speaker was appointed 
(May 14, 1884) to fill the vacancy. 3 Garret D. W. Vroom, 
of Trenton, was named, January 1 5, 1885, to take the place 
of William A. Whitehead, deceased/ and on May 21, 1885, 
the Committee was enlarged from four members to five, by 
the addition of Frederick W. Ricord/' Upon the death of 
ex-Governor Joel Parker, in 1887, Gen. William S. Stryker 
was named in his place (January 24, 1888). 6 At the 
meeting of the Society on January 26, 1892, the Hon. 
Nathaniel Niles, the Chairman of the Committee since 
1872, tendered his resignation, but it was referred 
to the Committee, who prevailed upon him to continue 

in the State Library, and 500 copies are given to the Historical Society, in con- 
sideration of its labors in the premises, and ii^ contributions from its collections 
nf original documents. 

i A comprehensive report of the Committee on Colonial and Revolutionary 
nents, embracing most of the foregoing details, with many additional par- 
ticulars, was presented to the Society in January, 1895, and is printed in the Pro- 
ceedings, Second Series, XIII.. 132-138. 

- Proceedings, 2d Series, \\. 50. 

8 [bid., VIII. . 19, 54. 

t [bid., VIII.. 106. 

S it, id.. VIII.. 156. 

8 [bid., X., 15. 



I 24 FIFTY YEARS OF 

his service two years longer. As he then insisted on 
withdrawing, his resignation was reluctantly accepted, 
and Edmund D. Halsey, of Rockaway, Morris county, was 
chosen as his successor, 1 and William Nelson, the senior 
member of the Committee in point of service, was elected 
Chairman. The Committee now consists of: William 
Nelson, Garret D. W. Vroom, Frederick W. Ricord, Wil- 
liam S. Stryker, Edmund D. Halsey.'- 



PART V. 
Other Work of the Society. 

Lerne nur das Gliick ergreifen, 

Derm das Gliick ist immer Ha.—GoeUie. 

The New Jersey Historical Society has always sought 
to keep in touch with the best sentiment in our State and 
country, interested in gleaning and preserving the annals 
of the past and present. Let me speak briefly of some 
directions in which its efforts have been felt. 
LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 

In the early days of our Society the project was mooted 
of encouraging local historical societies in the various 
cities and counties of the State. Dr. Lewis Condict offered 
a series of resolutions, November 5, 1846, recommending 
the organization of a historical association in each county, 
"for the purpose of obtaining correct information of the 

1 Ibid.. XII.. 3; XIII.. 137. 

2 Mr. Halsey died October 17. 1896, and Francis B. Lee. of Trenton, was appoint- 
ed to succeed him. in January, 1897. 

Frederick W. Ricord died in August. 1K;»7. and Austin Scott, Ph. D., LL. D., 
President of Rutgers College, was appoint ed to fill the vacancy. The original 
Committee was named by the Society, and vacancies were filled in the same man- 
ner. By the new Constitution, adopted in 1897. it is provided that the Committee 
shall be appointed annually, by the President of the Society. The Committee is 
now (September, 1898.) thus constituted: William Nelson. Garret D. W. Vroom, 
William S. Stryker. Francis B. Lee, Austin Scott. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. I 25 

early history and settlement of the different sections of our 
State," and formulating a plan of co-operation with this 
Society. The resolutions were referred to the Executive 
Committee, who reported, January 21, 1847, expressing 
doubts as to the expediency of the scheme, and giving 
their reasons plainly and forcibly, the main argument in 
opposition being the belief that such local societies would 
divide the interest that ought to be concentrated in the 
State Society. The Committee's report was concurred 
in. 1 Mr. Whitehead's successor in the office of Corres- 
ponding Secretary, the late Dr. Stephen Wickes, was an 
ardent believer in local societies as adjuncts to this Soci- 
ety, and securing the endorsement of the Executive Com- 
mittee vigorously pushed the project during his incum- 
bency of that office, issuing circulars and corresponding 
with gentlemen in all parts of the State. He reported, 
January 26, 1886, as a result of his efforts that two Coun- 
ty Historical Societies had been formed — one in Salem 
county and one in Hunterdon county, and that the Middle- 
sex County Historical Society, formed in 1870, which had 
partially lapsed, had been recently revived. Also, that 
there were similar societies in Somerset and in Burlington. 
At the same meeting he presented a carefully formulated 
basis of co-operation with such societies, providing for 
their representation in this Society, etc. 2 The subject was 
again reported on at the meetings held January 25, 1887, 
January 24, 1888, January 28, 1 890, and January 27, 
1 89 1 . :? Although the results hardly came up to his expec- 
tions, Dr. Wickes always had great faith in the advantages 

1 Proceedings. First Series, II., 4, 52. The late William A. Whitehead always 
ail here, 1 to the views expressed by the Execul Lve ( iommittee in this report, which 
he probably drafted. The writer, about 1875, suggested to Mr. Whitehead thai 
perhaps such local societies might serve as feeders to the parent Society, but Mr. 
mghi experience had shown thai it was difftculi enough to supporl one So- 
ciety in Xi'H Jersey. 

i Proc lings, 2d Series, IX.. 2, 30. 

3 [bid., IX . 112; X.. 16; XI.. 18-21, 72. 



126 FIFTY YEARS OF 

sure to accrue to this Society from the multiplication of 
local societies. 1 

EXTENDED CENSUS STATISTICS. 

Under the laws as they existed prior to 1875, the State 
decennial census, taken intermediately of the United 
States census, was limited to statistics of the population. 
The Standing Committee on Statistics, of this Society, 
made a somewhat elaborate report at the meeting held 
January 2], 1875, recommending that provision be made 
in the law for gathering data as to the agricultural, manu- 
facturing, mining and commercial interests of the State. 
The Society approved the idea, and as a result a bill drafted 
by a member of the Committee became a law, making it 
the duty of the local assessors to compile such statistics at 
the same time as the data as to population. - 

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF I 889. 
When the project took shape of celebrating in 1889 the 
centennial of the inauguration of George Washington as 
the first President of the United States, and the institution 
of our Federal Government, on April 30, 1789, this Soci- 
ety, in view of the significant and most important part 
taken by New Jersey in the formation of the National Con- 
stitution, was among the first of kindred organizations to 
manifest a zeal for participating in the proposed demon- 
stration. At the meeting at Newark, May 20, 1886, reso- 
lutions to this end were adopted, and Messrs. Nathaniel 

1 Dr. Henry R. Baldwin, a member of the new Board of Trustees of the Society, 
revived the project at the first meeting of the Board. November 6, 1897. and on 
motion his resolutions were referred to a committee of three— Dr. Henry R. Bald- 
win, William Nelson and G. D. W. V room.— who reported at the December meet- 
ing of the Board, favorably. The Committee has been continued until this time 
(October, 1898). Dr. Baldwin, the Chairman, has been very active in pressing 
this scheme, and has met with considerable encouragement in his efforts. 

2 Proceedings, 2d Series, IV.. 9, 52. The Act in question was approved April 9. 
1875 (Pamphlet Laws, 1875. p. 97). The Hon. Henry C. Kelsey, the Secretary of 
State, under whose supervision the census was to be taken, conferred with me re- 
peatedly in preparing the blanks for the additional statistics, thus recognizing 
the part taken by the Society in securing this legislation. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. I 27 

Niles, John T. Nixon, William S. Stryker, Joel Parker and 
William Nelson were appointed a committee to represent 
the Society in the celebration exercises. 1 The Committee 
immediately put itself in communication with similar bodies 
elsewhere. It reported May 17, 1888, "that the celebra- 
tion bids fair to rival any held since that of 1876. As the 
New Jersey Historical Society was the first organized body 
to take action in this State in the matter, and as the affair 
is likely to be on a grand scale, it seems wise to your 
Committee that this Committee should be enlarged, and 
that the participation of other New Jersey organizations 
should be invited." Accordingly, on the Committee's rec- 
ommendation, the President, the Vice Presidents, the offi- 
cers and the Executive Committee of the Society were 
added, and the Committee was authorized to increase its 
numbers from other members of the Society.'- Governor 
Robert S. Green, of New Jersey, himself a member of the 
Society, and a descendant of historic families of our State, 
took a warm interest in the contemplated ceremonies, and 
to him the Committee presented an address, embodying 
some suggestions as to the proper proceedings on our soil, 
namely: that President Benjamin Harrison, in coming from 
Washington to New York, to take part in the great display 
there, should, as far as practicable, follow across New Jer- 
sey the route taken by General Washington in 1789, hav- 
ing public receptions at Trenton, Princeton and Elizabeth. 
Further details were carefully outlined in the programme 
proposed by the Committee. The report was received by 

1 Proceedings, 2d Scries. IX.. 32. The resolutions were offered by Mr. Nelson, 
inn the suggestion came from Mr. Niles. who was unavoidably absent. 11 was Mr. 
Niles who offered the resolutions adopted by the Chamber of Commerce of New 
York, which prepared the way fur the National celebration. 

- Proceedings, 2d Series. X.. 51. The additions made were: President, the Re\ , 
Samuel M. Hamill. D. D. : Vice Presidents— Jucltre John Clement. Samuel II. Pen- 
nington, M. D.; Corresponding Secretary, Stephen Wickes. M. D.: Treasurer ami 
Librarian, Frederick W. Ricord; Executive Committee —George A. Halsey, Rev. 
George S. Mott, D. D., John F. Hageman, Justice David A. Depue. John I.Blair. 
Franklin Murphy, Robert F. Ballantine.— Ibid., 15, 127. Practically, the an 
ments were left with the Committee as originallj constituted. 



I 2b FIFTY YEARS OF 

the Society at its meeting at Trenton, January 22, 1889, 
with much enthusiasm, and was cordially approved by in- 
telligent historical students everywhere. 1 Eclat was lent to 
the participation of this Society in the demonstration by 
the generosity of Mr. Nathaniel Niles, the Chairman of the 
Special Committee, who placed at our disposal the steamer 
"City of Hudson," for the accommodation of the Society 
and its friends, in the great Naval Parade of April 29- In- 
vitations were sent to the Governor, State officers — Legis- 
lative, Executive, Judicial and Military — faculties of the 
principal educational institutions and various organizations 
to become our guests on this occasion. The Local Com- 
mittee of Elizabeth set apart two carriages for eight mem- 
bers of this Society, to act as part of the special escort of 
the President, in the parade at that place, namely : Samuel 
H. Pennington, M. D., of Newark; the Hon. John Hop- 
per, of Paterson ; John F. Hageman, Esq, of Princeton; 
the Hon. John I. Blair, of Blairstown; the Hon. Nathaniel 
Niles, of Madison; ex-Mayor Garret D. VV. Vroom, of 
Trenton ; the Hon. George A. Halsey, of Newark, and 
William Nelson, of Paterson. The Presidential train ar- 
rived at Elizabeth at eight o'clock, and at the subsequent 
reception many members of this Society were among those 
presented to the President. Then the procession marched 
to Elizabethport, where the President and his party em- 
barked on a Government vessel awaiting them, and the 

1 Proceedings. 2d Series, X.. 127-130. Unfortunately. President Harrison's offi- 
cial engagements were such, attendant upon his recent inauguration, that he was 
unable to spare the time requisite for carrying out fully the above programme, 
which would have occupied two days, and he was obliged to hasten by train 
through the State, pausing only for brief receptions on the morning of April 29. 
188;). at the State House, at Trenton, and at the residence of Governor Green, at 
Elizabeth. 

2 The cost of chartering the steamer for the day was 8800. But one other mem- 
ber of the Committee was aware that Mr. Niles furnished this vessel at his own 
expense, and the fact has never been divulged until now. Mr. Erastus Wiman 
generously offered to bear half the expense of the steamer, but Mr. Niles would 
not consent. Mr. Wiman then insisted on providing the collation for the guests 
on board, at a cost of $125. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. I 29 

guests of the Historical Society took possession of the 
"City of Hudson," which was assigned an excellent posi- 
tion in the parade, so that her passengers saw all that was 
to be seen from the decks of the most favored vessels in 
the line. The whole affair gave no little prestige to our 
Society, and has left a delightful memory in the recollec- 
tion of all who had the good fortune to participate in its 
pleasures. 1 

THE CENTENNIAL MEDAL. 

Out of this notable event grew another movement, which 
in the end furnished the special feature of to-day's cele- 
bration. Mr. Nathaniel Niles was so enthusiastically in- 
terested in the Federal Centennial that he was full of the 
subject. On his motion the Society, on January 22, 1889, 

Resolved, That a medal be struck by this Society, commemorative of the 
Centennial of the Inauguration of Washington as the first President of the 
United States, and of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and that a 
committee of three, together with the President, be appointed by this Soci- 
ety, to select designs for the die and to arrange for the striking of such a 
medal, in gold, silver and bronze. 

Messrs. Nathaniel Niles, Clifford Stanley Sims and Gar- 
ret D. VV. Vroom, and the President, the Rev. Dr Samuel 
M. Hamill, were appointed the Committee. 2 They report- 
ed, January 28, 1890, having substantially agreed upon a 
medal similar in design to that distributed at the Paris Ex- 
position of 1889, a fine specimen of which was presented 
by Mr. Niles. That gentleman at the same time offered a 
resolution, which was adopted, looking to the award of the 
Centennial Medal as a prize in the public schools of the 
State, "to the youth sustaining the best examination upon 
the history of New Jersey." 3 At the meeting in Newark, 

1 For a detailed report of the Committee, see Proceedings. 2d Series, X., 185- 
107. See also ibid.. l?l -2, 179. The writer's pleasurable sensations on this occa- 
sion were somewhat modified by his responsibilities, Mr. Niles having placed the 
steamer "City of Hudson" under his orders for the day -his first and last expi ri- 
ence as commander of such a vessel. 

2 Proceedings. 2d Series. X.. 131. 

3 Ibid.. XL. 17. 

17 



I30 FIFTY YEARS OF 

May 19, 1892, the Committee submitted "for the inspec- 
tion of the members and friends of the Society present, the 
die and two specimens of the medal, one in silver and one 
in bronze. They were greatly admired as of the most ex- 
quisite workmanship, and Mr. Niles was warmly compli- 
mented on the success which had crowned his efforts to se- 
cure the production of a medal which would be creditable 
to the Society." 1 At the next meeting, at Trenton, Janu- 
ary 24, 1893, it was stated by the committee that "the dies 
cost $560, of which $400 had been privately contributed, 
and the Committee hoped to obtain lrom private sources, 
an amount sufficient to enable them to present the dies to 
the Society without expense."- This expectation was 
realized a few weeks later, when the dies were presented to 
the Society, together with a specimen of the medal in sil- 
ver and one in bronze, in a letter dated Newark, June 14, 

1893, addressed to the Hon. John Clement, President of 
the Society, the donors being Robert F. Ballantine, Abram 
S. Hewitt, John I. Blair, Nathaniel Niles, John H. Ballan- 
tine, G. D. W. Vroom, and William Nelson. 3 The Com- 
mittee made its final report to the Society January 23, 

1894, when the foregoing letter was submitted also, to- 
gether with a detailed description of the medal. The de- 
sign was by Tiffany & Co., and the dies were executed by 
Tardier, who engraved the present seal of the United 
States. The obverse bears the head of Washington, after 
the Houdon bust, surrounded by the legend, "Washington 
Centennial Medal, New Jersey Historical Society, 1789 
April 1889." On the reverse appears the seal of the Soci- 
ety, and the motto, from the writings of Washington, 
"Above all things hold dear your National Union," all sur- 
rounded by a wreath of leaves of the laurel and the oak. 4 
On motion of Mr. Niles it was resolved to "hold one medal 

1 Ibid., XI., 164; XII.. 64. 2 ibid., XII.. 120. 

3 Ibid., XIII., 6. 4 ibid.. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. I^>I 

in reserve once in five years for each county in the State, 
and that such medals may be donated annually by mem- 
bers of the Society in their respective counties, and offered 
as a prize in the free public schools of the State, at a com- 
petitive examination on the history of New Jersey." 1 Reg- 
ulations were provided for the disposal of other copies, and 
for a register of the same, and it was further 

Resolved, That in carrying out the resolution of this Society, passed the 
twenty-second day of January, 1889, Number 1, now being struck in gold, 
be presented to ex-President Benjamin Harrison, President of the United 
States during the Centennial year of the Constitution, at such time and place 
as the Executive Committee may arrange. That medal No. 2 be in silver, 
and that it be presented to the Hon. Robert S. Green, who was the Governor 
of New Jersey during said Centenuial year. That such presentation be made 
at a time and place to be fixed by the Executive Committee of this Society.- 

By a most happy combination of circumstances, it has 
been arranged that the presentation of this gold medal 
shall be made to day, whereby the Semi-Centennial cele- 
bration of the New Jersey Historical Society has been 
given, in a measure, a National character. 

Standing here to-day, after a career of fifty years, and 
welcoming, as we do, the distinguished ex-President of the 
United States, and a host of the most noted men and 
women of our State, besides many from neighboring Com- 

i The following gentlemen immediately volunteered to assume the expense of 
furnishing the medals for their respective counties: 
Bergen— William M. Johnson, of Hackensack. 
Burlington— Clifford Stanley Sims, of Mt. Holly. 

1 Jape May— Francis B. Lee, of Trenton. 
Essex Charles Bradley, of Newark. 
Mercer- Garret D. W. Vroom, of Trenton. 
Morris -Henry C. Pitney, of Morristown. 
Passaic— William Nelson, of Paterson. 

Warren— George M. Robeson, of Camden.— Proceedings. 2d Series, XIII., 10. 

2 Proceedings. 2d Series, xni.. 9. At the same meeting it was resolved "that 
the net proceeds of the Centennial medals be reserved and set apart as a Medal 
Fund, to be devoted solely to the purposes mentioned in the report of the Com- 
mittee on Centennial Medals." The thanks of the Society were also voted to the 
members of the Committee, and one of the silver medals was ordered to be pre- 
sented to each of them.— Ibi d., 9-10. On May 17. 189-1, a copy in bronze was voted 
to "each of the contributors to the cost of cutting the dies for said medal, the cost 
thereof to be charged to the Medal Fund."— Ibid.. 67. 



j 32 Fifty years oF 

monwealths, we feel that the New Jersey Historical Society 
has a record of work done which it can confidently spread 
before its guests, sure of their interest, their approval, their 
sympathy. Its beginnings were small. Its first efforts were 
feeble. Its pace has sometimes halted. Yet its progress 
has been steadily onward and upward. Its objects appeal 
to the few, rather than to the many. Still fewer are those 
who can give or take the time needed to further its inter- 
ests, in these days when the world is ever increasing its 
demands upon us to fill the duties of to day, and to pre- 
pare for the morrow. The multitude have neither time 
nor inclination to learn the lessons taught by the experi- 
ence of others. They must needs learn from their own. 
Too seldom, indeed, do they hearken to the teachings thus 
acquired, at oh, so great a cost! To the philosopher, the 
historian, the statesman is relegated the task of delving in 
the musty lore of the past to gather up the lessons taught 
by the days of yore. Not all unheeded are these lessons, 
There come times when the voice of some one rises above 
the din of the madding crowd, even like the prophets of 
old, and men are compelled to pause, to listen, to heed, as 
they are reminded of what their forefathers did or suffered 
in times gone by, under circumstances that are forever be- 
ing paralleled in the world's history ; and so at times they 
are led to imitate the wisdom and to avoid the errors of 
the men of the olden days. 

The Historical Society gathers and preserves the annals 
of the past, and of To-day, which in a few hours will be 
numbered with the Yesterdays. This material is and will 
be the inspiration for those warning voices that here, there, 
everywhere, are uplifting men to higher planes of action, 
to loftier vistas of human life and endeavor. "Teach noth- 
ing in the schools," said Erasmus, "but what bears on life 
and duty." Pope declares that 

The proper study of mankind is man. 



historical work in new jersey. 133 

Where can you pursue that fascinating study better than 
among the books, nay, among the manuscripts, 1 in our col- 
lections ? Here are the inedited journals, the diaries, the 
letters of men and women in every walk of life, since the 
first settlement of New Jersey, revealing the loves, the 
hates, the jealousies, the stern endurance, the sturdy patri- 
otism, the religious fervor, the noblest yearnings of hun- 
dreds who have long since passed away, but who have left 
behind them these pages traced by their own hands. How 
near it brings them to us ! How real history becomes under 
such associations ! It seems easier to heed what these peo- 
ple tell us, whose identity, whose individuality thus stands 
out in the words they have penned. 

But how can these treasures be preserved — nay, how 
can they be gathered in full measure — without a proper 
home for our Society? 

How can they be properly cared for without funds for 
the support of the Society? 

How is it possible to publish what we have, and what 
we hope to get, unless there is an adequate Publication 
Fund? 

Is not a Library Fund essential for the proper custody, 
the cataloguing and the increase of our noble collection of 
books? 

Our gal'ery of portraits is small, but of great value, and 
would be largely extended if we had proper accommoda- 
tions for them. 2 

The rare and curious articles that often throw strange 
light on the manners and customs of former times; the 
objects that are closely associated with historic personages 
and events — these need cabinets, and the cabinets need 
room. 

Surely it is not too much to hope that this semi-centen- 
nial anniversary, auspicious and altogether delightful in its 

1 A li-t of the principal collections of manuscripts is appended. 

- For a catalogue of the Portraits, sec appended Notes. 



134 FIFTY YEARS OF 

beginning, may be the harbinger of even brighter and 
more prosperous days in the future for our New Jersey 
Historical Society, and that the people of the whole State 
may feel and manifest a sympathy in its aims that at no 
distant day will result in giving it the home it so sorely 
needs, and the generous maintenance merited by its noble 
scope and aspirations. 



NOTES 



Manuscript Collections. 

The following are some of the more important collections of manuscripts 
in our library, with dates of presentation, and references to further de- 
BCi iptions of them: 

Papers of John Fenwick, relating to his personal affairs and to his Colony 
in Salem Tenth. May 7th, 1815; September 3, 1846.— Proceedings, I., 9, 19, 
80, 198. 

Life of the Eev. William Teunent, by Thomas HendersoD, M. D. Sep- 
tember 1, 1815.— lb., I., 73. 

Copies of the Stirling Papers. September 4, 1845. — lb., I.. G5. 

Papers of Lewis Morris and Robert Hunter Morris. November 6, 1845; 
May 19, 18G4.— lb., I., 99, 112, 113; IX., 197. 

Journal of Dr. Ebenezer Elmer, January, 1776, to March, 1777, and June- 
August, 1779. January 15, 1846.— lb., I., 125. 

Extracts from the diary of Col. Jacob Spicer, of Cape May, 1756-1762. a 
bouud volume of 300 pages. September 3, 1846.— lb., I., 141, 200. 

< Iriginal Draft of the Fundamental Constitutions, 1683. May 27, 1847.— 
lb., II., 89. 

Letter-book of William Peartree Smith. 1781-83, containing also Laws and 
Ordinances of the Borough of Elizabeth, 1760, and Charter of the Borough, 
1730. May 27, 1847.-/6., II., 89. 

Manuscripts of Samuel Smith. September 13, 1849.— lb , IV., 102, 
117; VIII., 40, 126. 

.Manuscripts of Gen. Elias Dayton. May 16, 1850. — lb., V., 5. 

('..pies of Papers of Gov. Jonathan Belcher. May 20, 1852.— lb., VI., 
65, 68, 75, 155, 157; VII., I, 49. 

( Iriginal instructions of surrender by the Proprietors to the Crown in 1702. 
May L9, 1853. -iT,., VII., 12. 

Original memorials, letters and communications presented to the New 
Jersey Provincial Congress, 1775-1776. May 18, 1854.— lb., VII., 85, 88. 

Original instructions of William Penn and others to the commissioners 
Bent by them in 1676 to arrange their financial differences with John Fen- 
wiok. May 18, 1854.— lb., VII., 89. 

Papers of Robert Fulton, relating to steam navigation, torpedoes, etc. 
January 17, 1856.— lb., VHP, 4. 

Papers of Ferdinand John Paris. May 17, I860.- -lb. . IX , 27. 

Rutherfurd Manuscripts. May 15, 1862; May 16, 1867.— lb., IX , 107; 
■ I Si rics, I. , 26. 



1^6 FIFTY YEARS OF 

Papers of Robert Erskine, of Ringwcod. September 25, 1856; January 
15, 1863.— lb., VIII., 41; IX., 146; Second Series, L. 148. 

Papers relating to the boundaries between East and West Jersey, and be- 
tween New Jersey and New York. May 15, 1862. —lb., IX , 107. 

Original Minutes of the Provincial Congress on June 22, 1776. January 
18, 1877.— Proceedings, Second Series, I., 173. 

Whitehead Manuscripts. May 21, 1885.— lb., VIIL, 154, 176-177. 

Papers relating to location of lands in Cape May, by Dr. Daniel Coxe. 
January 26, 1886.— lb., IX., 9. 

Lindsley Manuscripts. January 27, 1891.— lb., XL, 103. 

Edwin Salter Manuscripts. January 27, 1891.— lb., XL, 114. 

In addition to the foregoing, in our collections, may be mentioned : 

List of the Rutherfurd Manuscripts. — Proceedings, I., 75. 

Some accouut of the Papers of Governor William Livingston. — lb. , VIIL, 
115; IX., 2, 5, 24; Second Series, XIIL, 136. 

Manuscripts of Alfred Vail, relating to the invention of the electric tele- 
graph —lb.. Second Series, V, 4-6; XL, 103. 

The Tuttle Manuscripts, as they might be termed, comprise a large 
amount of manuscript notes gathered by the Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Tuttle, re- 
lating to the Revolutionary history of Morris county, being principally the 
recollections of aged inhabitants of that county. They are neatly written, 
labeled, numbered and tied up in bundles. 

Allusion has been made to the numerous Order Books, Diaries and Journ- 
als of officers and soldiers relating to the Revolution. 

Donations of Special Interest. 

The Society has from time to time been made the recipient of gifts to its 
Library, of great interest. A few of the more notable are here set down : 

1852, May 20— From the Rev. Stephen Dod, of East, Haven, Conn., but 
formerly of Bloomfield, N. J., a perfect file of the Sentinel of Freedom, a 
weekly newspaper of Newark, 1796-1852, a period of fifty-five and a half 
years, bound in volumes. — Proceedings, VI., 63. 

1852, May 20 —From the Rev. Dr. Murray, a lot of early New Jersey 
newspaper files. — lb., 83. 

1859, May 19— From his widow, the uniform and chapeau of Capt. James 
Lawrence, U. S. N. , presumed to have been worn by him in his fatal engage- 
ment on the Chesapeake, June 2, 1813.— lb., VIIL, 151; IX., 9. 

1860, May 17— From E. T. Hillyer, son of the Rev. Dr. Hillyer, of 
Orange, the study chair of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Macwhorter, pastor of 
the First Presbyterian church of Newark for many years prior to 1809. — lb. , 
IX., 27. 

1863, January 15— From the Rev. Dr. J. F. Tuttle, of Morris county, 140 
bound volumes and nearly 1,000 pamphlets, principally relating to New Jer- 
sey, presented by Dr. Tuttle when about removing to Crawfordsville, Indi- 
ana, to assume the Presidency of Wabash College. — lb., IX., 136. 



HISTORICAL WORK IX NEW JERSEY. 1 37 

1877, May 17— From the estate of Marcus Williams, deceased, a collec- 
tion of Indian, feather ornaments, etc., obtained by Mr. Williams while on an 
expedition up the Amazon river. — lb., Second Series, V., 6. 

1878, January 17 — A collection of nearly 500 specimens of Confederate 
currency. — lb. , V., 48. 

[887, January 25— From Samuel H. Hunt, of Newton, a set of Niles's 
Weekly Register, in 59 volumes. — lb , IX., 109. 

1890, May 15 — From Dr. M. H. C. Vail, a rile of the Newark Morning 
Register, 48 volumes.— lb., XL, 2 (66). 

1893, May 18— Photographs of ancient tombstones in the Old Burying 
Ground, Newark.— lb., XII., ISO. 

This list migbt be indefinitely extended. 

Portraits. 

Our collection of portraits is small, but includes some of interest and 
value. Among them are the following : 

Andrus, Isaac, of Newark, Major in the War of 1812, and Brigadier Gen- 
oral of Militia at the time of his death. He was born in Newark, Feb. 4, 
1774, and died there, Feb. 27, 1850. 

Barron, Thomas, formerly of Woodbridge, N. J., painted by Duraud. 
See Proceedings, 2d Series, IV., 121. 

Burr, Aaron, Vice President of the United States, painted by Gilbert 
Stuart. This portrait bas a remarkable history, which was related to the 
Society, May 18, 1865. — Proceedings, 1st Series, X.. 50, 170. 

Clay, Henry, paiuted by Cafferty, of New York, iu 1847. Presented to 
the Society by S. Alofsen, May 16, 1867.— lb., 2d Series, I., 48. 

Crowell, Edward, formerly of Newark. — lb. X., 123. 

dimming, the Rev. Hooper, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, 
Newark, 1811-1815; afterwards at Schenectady, at Albany, and iu the Van- 
dewater street church, New York. Presented by his daughter, Mrs. Jacob 
Van Arsdale, of Princeton, Jan. 21, 1875.-/6., 'id Series, IV., 17. 

Day, Matthias W. , Cashier for many years of the Mechanics' Bank, Newark. 

Drummoud, Robert, a merchant at Acqnackauonk (now Passaic), before 
tlic Revolution; he joined the British in 1776, and was commissioned Major 
of the Second Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers (Loyalists) ; he died in Lon- 
don, 1783. (See History of Paterson, I., 453.) Also portrait of his wife, 
Jannetje Vreeland, of Acquackanonk These are pastels, and were be- 
queathed to the Society by Allan Cluss, of Paterson, a great-grandson of Ma- 
jor Drummoud. They were received October 7, 189S. See Proceedings for 
October 26, 1898, 3d Series, II., — . 

Frelinghuysen, Theodore, the emiuent statesman; Chancellor of the Uni- 
versity of New York, 1839-1850; President of Rutgers College, 1850-1861. 

Haines, Daniel, Governor of New Jersey.— lb., '2d Series, XL, 17; XIL, 3. 

Holden, Captain Levi, of Newark, and of his wife. — lb., 1st Series, X., 13. 
(Mrs. Holden was Hannah Flympton, born at Sudbury, Mass., July 27, 1730. ) 
is 



I3S FIFTY YEARS OF 

Homblower, Joseph Coerten, Chief Justice of New Jersey, 1832-1846, and 
President of the Society, 1845-1865. 

Joy, Colonel Edmund L., of Newark.— lb., 2d Series, XII., 180. 

Lawrence, Captain James, of the U. S. Navy, painted by Gilbert Stuart, 
and presented to the Society January 24, 1888. — lb., 2d Series, X., 13. 

McDowell, the Rev. John, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Eliz- 
abeth, 1804-1833; Central Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, 1833-1845; 
Spring Garden Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, 1845-1863. 

Murray, the Rev. Dr. Nicholas, of Elizabeth— lb., X., 123. 

Ogden, Mrs. Frances Barber, and child, painted in water colors, on ivory, 
by Sir William Newton, painter to Queen Adelaide of England. Presented 
January 22, 1889.— lb.. X., 123. 

Prime, the Rev. Irenteus, distinguished editor and writer. A pastel. 

Schuyler. Colonel Peter, the famous hero of the French and Indian War, 
in 1756-1759. Presented in 1817. -lb., 1st Series, II., 71. 

Stockton. Richard, United States Senator from New Jersey; a pastel. 

Whitehead, William A. — apparently unfinished. 

There is a curious old painting of a Dutch family — husband and wife, 
five sons and two daughters — which was bought about 1830 in New York by 
Matthias W. Day, of Newark, who supposed that it was intended to represent 
Henry Hudson and his family, though that is obviously improbable. — lb., X., 
155. 

To this list may be added mention of 

Bust of the Princess Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, 
excpiisitely wrought by Canova, in Cavarra marble; it formerly adorned the 
residence of her brother, Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain, at Borden- 
town. Presented January 22, 1889.— lb., 2d Series, X , 122. 

Bust of ex-Governor William A. Newell.— lb., XL, 103. 

Abstract of Title 

Of the New Jersey Historical Society to Lot on the north side of W T est Park 
street, Newark. [This also covers the adjacent plot of the Newark Libra- 
ry Association, which that corporation purchased from the Trustees of the 
Park Presbyterian Congregation in Newark.] Furnished by the Fidelity 
Title and Deposit Company, Newark, N. J. 

(No. 1.) 

Warranty Deed, dated May 23, 
Samuel March, and Sarah, 1796. Ack'd Aug. 2, 1797. 

his wife, Recorded Aug. 16, 1797, in Essex 

to County Clerk's office, in Book C of 

James Murray. Deeds, p. 326. 

Consideration, £800. 
Conveys premises in Newark, being a dwelling house and lot on Main 
Street, bounded south by Caleb Baldwiu's house lot; Beginning at eastern- 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 139 

most corner of said Baldwin's lot on Broad Street; thence along line of 
said Baldwin's lot to Samuel Ball; thence— along Ball's line to lot of Miss 
Hatfield 66 Iks.; thence— along said Hatfield's East to Broad Street; thence 
— along Broad 81 Iks. to the place of Beginning. Containing 41-100 acres 
more or less. 

(No. 2.) 
James Marry, 
to 
Archer Gifford, in trust to pay out 

of the rents and profits of said prem- 

a>nn m 1 1 t 1 11 ir Deed, dated July 18, 1801. Ack'd 

lses ^02.. :>0 yearly to Isabella Murray, J ' ^.^ ... 

.. - ; . ., „ . . , - July 19, 1802. 
wife of party of the first part during * ' 

,., c c it 41 i. l i n Rec'd An". 11, 1802, in Book C. 

life of party of the first part and the ° ' ' ■"«««• «-, 

remainder of the rents and profits of ' " 

., . , 11 i. -lt Consideration, $1. 

said premises to pay equally to Han- 
nah Blackford, Jane T. Durning, 
James Murray and William Murray, 
children of party of the first part. 

Conveys premises in the Town of Newark, (No. 1) on the Main Street and 
bouuded on the South by Caleb Baldwin's house lot, Beginning at the East 
corner of said Baldwin's lot on the Broad Street; thence along line of said 
Baldwin's lot to laud of Samuel Ball; thence along Ball's line to land of Mrs. 
Hatfields 66 Iks. ; thence along line of said Hatfields lot East to Broad Street; 
thence along Broad Street to the Beginning, 81 Iks. Containing 41-100 acres 
more or less. 

(No. 3.) 

Sheriff's Deed, dated January 6th, 
Nathan Squire, Shff. 1812. Ack'd Jan. 31st, 1812. 

to Recorded Apl. 4th, 1821, in Book 

Caleb Sayres. L 2, pp. 170-5. 

Cons., $3. 
Conveys premises in Newark: On the West side of Broad Street, belong- 
ing to children of James Murray and at present occupied by Joseph Ten 
Brook. Containing 41-100 Acres Bounded on the East by Broad Street; on 
the West by Back Streetl ; on the North by laud late of Mr, Hatfield, now of 
George Hobdys; on the South by Richard Leaycraft. 

Recites:- James Murray to Archer Gifford, in trust for children of said 
James Murray. 

Sheriff seized on all the right, title and interest of above land, but grant 
conveys all Real Estate whereof Defeudant was seized on August 7th, 1811. 

Sold by virtue of a Writ of issued out of the Court of Common Pleas, 

dated 1th Tuesday of June, 1811, in a certain Action wherein William Mur- 
ray was Plaintiff or Complainant and Edward Blackford, brother inlaw of 
Complt. was Defendant. 

' Niiw Halsey si reet. 



140 



Fifty years of 



John Agg, and Elizabeth G. 

his wife, 

daughter of Hannah Blackford, 

to 

Edward D. Blackford, 

also written Edwd. E. 



(No. 4.) 

Bargain and sale deed, Cov. vs. 
Grtr. 

Dated Nov. 1st, 1821. Ack'd 
Nov. 13th, 1821. 

Bec'd Nov. 14th, 1821, in Book K 
2, pp. 370-373. 
Cons., $500. 

Conveys undivided 1-6 part of same premises as in No. 3. 
Recites Nathan Squier, Sheriff, to Caleb Sayre, January 6th, 1812. 
Will of William Murray, January 9th, 1813. 

Said lands bought by said Sayre at Sheriff's Sale (L 2-170) at request of 
William Murray for his use and under an Agreement made with William 
Murray, that whenever William Murray his heirs, executors, administrators, 
should pay to said Sayre, the consideration mentioned in said deed, together 
with other money 4c., then said Sayre would convey to such person or per- 
sons in fee simple &c. as said William Murray would direct in recited Will. 



Edward D. Blackford, 

to 
Francis G. Blackford. 



(No. 5.) 

Bargain and sale deed, dated 
May 2d, 1827. Ack'd May 16th, 1827. 
Bec'd May 16th, 1827, in Book W 
2, pp. 391-2. 
Cons., $750. 
Conveys undivided 2-6 part of premises same as in No. 3. 

(No. 6.) 
Elias A. Van Arsdale 
and 
Josiah James 
Exrs. of Caleb Sayrs, 
parties of the first part, 
to 
Luther Goble, party of the second 
part, Frances G. Blackford, Elizabeth 
G. Agg, wife of John, William B. 
Blackford, George D. Blackford, sur- 
viving children of Edward Blackford, 
and Hannah, his wife, parties of the 
third part, and Edward Blackford and 
Hannah, his wife, Executors of Wil- 
liam Murray, parties of the fourth 
part. 

Parties of the first part release to parties of the third part premises in 
Newark. (No. 3). 



Deed, dated May 28, 1833. Ack'd 
June 6, 1833. 

Bec'd June 21, 1834, in Book Q 3, 
392. 
Consideration, $1. 



P 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 141 

(No. 7 ) 

Edward Blackford, and Hannah, Bargain and sale deed ' dated Jul y 

his wife 21, 1827. Ack'd July 24, 1827. 

1 t Rec'd July 24, 1827, in Book W 2, 

Francis G. Blackford. ^' ° " 

Consideration, $920. 

Conveys all parts or shares of parties of the first part to premises iu Town 

of Newark. (No. 3.) 

(No. 8.) 

Hannah Blackford, 
widow of Edward Blackford, and Warranty deed, dated March 27, 

daughter of James Murray, deceased, 1849 - Ack ' d March 27 ' 1849 - 

t Kec'd Jan. 11, 1850, in Book D 7, 

vt 94 
Trustees of the Park Presbyterian *■ ' 

n •• • vr _ i Consideration, $9,000. 

Congregation in Newark. ' v , uuu - 

Conveys premises in Newark, Beginning on the West side of Broad Street 
extending therefrom to the East side of Halsey Street, being about 54 feet 
front on Broad Street and 45 feet front on line of Halsey Street. Bounded 
South by formerly Caleb Baldwin, now Ephraim Bolles; North by Mrs. Mary 
Hetfielcl, deceased. 

Recites No. 1, to James Murray. James Murray died. 

Being same that belonged to James Murray, father of party of the first 
part and occupied by him in his lifetime and after his death by his widow 
until her death. 

(No. 9.) 

The Trustees of the Park Presby- Warrant y deed - d <^ Oct 1, 1849. 

. . n ■ ■ it " 1 Proved Jan. 3, 1850. 

terian Congregation in Newark, „ ' 

& Rec'd Jan. 11, 1850, in Book D 7, 

p. 97. 

Enoch Bolles. ',-,".-, • m>„ 

Consideration, $9,000. 

Conveys same premises described in No. 8. 

Recites:— Same conveyed by Mrs. Hannah Blackford to party of the first 

part, March 27, 1849 (D 7-94). 

Note:— Proof not signed by Secretary. 

(No. 10.) 

,, TT 1 1 i t.1- 1 xi i- Warranty deed, dated March 30, 

Alvau Hedden, aud Elizabeth, his 1Qm . ,,,,, . 01 , 0i _ 
' Tli 1849. Ackd March 31, 1849. 

wife, and Samuel Utter, ^ ^ fa ^ A 

t0 p. 324. 

Enoch Bolles. „ . , ,. <*i nn -„ 

Consideration, $10,0u0. 

Conveys premises iu Newark, Beginning at the Northeast corner thereof in 
line of Broad Street on the West side of the large Military Common and at 
the South-east corner of land belonging to the Estate of Jesse B. Pitt or for- 



T42 FIFTY YEARS OF 

merly so, now to Isaac Meeker; thence South 25 deg. West 55 feet 4 inches; 
thence North 59 deg. West 380 feet 9 inches to Halsey Street; thence North 
27 deg. 30 min. East 42 feet 10 inches; thence South 61 deg. East 344 feet; 
thence South 62 deg. East 36 feet to Broad Street and place of Beginning. 
Bounded North by lands formerly belonging to Estate of Jesse B. Pitt, de- 
ceased, now to Isaac Meeker, and lauds late of General Thomas Ward, now of 
party of the first part. 

Recites:— Book P 3, p. 176. 

(No. 11.) 

Isaac Meeker, and Jane M.. his Deed, dated April 4, 1849. Ack'd 
wife, April 4, 1849. 

to Rec'd April 7, 1849, in Book Z 6, 

The Trustees of the Park Presby- p. 256. 
terian Congregation. Consideration, f 400. 

Conveys premises iu Newark, Beginning in the South line of lands owned 
by John Morris l 100 feet from the West line of Broad Street opposite Military 
Common as said line of Broad Street has been established by authorities of 
the City of Newark; thence South parallel with said established line of said 
Street 39 feet more or less to land of Alvan Hedden and Samuel Utter; 
thence West along line of said Hedden and Utter 87 feet more or less to land 
of Alvan Hedden ; thence North along Hedden's line 38 feet 8 inches to land 
of John Morris; thence along line of said Morris 87 feet more or less to the 
place of Beginning. Baiug rear part of lot conveyed in recited deed after 
reserving a lot 100 feet running back from the line of Broad Street as estab- 
lished by public authorities of the City of Newark. 
Recites:- Book N 6, p. 215. 

(No. 12.) 

_ ■_ „ Deed, dated Oct. 1, 1849. Ack'd 

Enoch Bolles, _ . ,„.. 

Jan. 3, 1850. 

The Trustees of the Park Presby- ' ' ' 

terian Congregation in Newark. „ " • , ,. *,„ „™ 

Consideration, $6,250. 

Conveys premises in Newark, Beginning in the North line of a new street- 
now or about to be laid through Ephraim Bolles and James Murray and to 
run from Broad to Halsey Street 100 feet 3 inches from the corner of said 
new street and Broad Street, also intended to be 100 feet at right angles from 

1 John Morris and Betsey his wife conveyed a small lot to Samuel Morris, by 
deed dated Aug. 15, 180(5; ackn'd Feb. 28, 1809; recorded March 6, 1809. in Book O, 
p. 464. Cons.. $50. 

John Morris also conveyed a tract adjoining the above to Thomas Morris, son 
of John Morris, by deed dated Oct. 12, 1807: acknowledged Feb. 28. 1809; recorded 
March 9, 1809. in Book O. p. 474. Cons., $100. 

- Now West Park street. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 143 

tin West Hue of Broad Street as same is or may be established by the public 
authorities of the City of Newark ; thence parallel with Broad Street North 27 
deg. 55 min. East 74. feet 9 inches more or le3s to the South line of party of 
the second part as in Z 6- 256; thence West along same S7 feet more or less 
to the Southwest corner of said conveyed lands; thence North along the 
West line of same 38 feet 8 inches to John Morris; thence West along same 
87 feet more or less to a point exactly 100 feet East at right angles from the 
East Hue of Halsey Street; thence South parallel with Hilsey Street 108 feet 
8 iuches to said new street; thence South 57 deg. 55 min. East along said 
new street 176 feet 11 inches more or less to the place of Beginning. 

Also so much of land embraced in said new street as lies between East 
aud West line of lot above described until same strikes North line of Ephraim 
Bolles. 

(No. 13.) 

rnl m . - ., -r, , t, , Deed, dated Sept. 30, 1851. Ack'd 

The Trustees of the Park Presby- ^ „„„ 

n .. . ,, . J Dec. 27, 1851. 

terian Congregation in Newark, „ , ,' . 

5 Rec'd Mch. 19, 1852, in Book X 7, 
to 

Matthew Ely. P- ** . a 

J Consideration, $1,800. 

Conveys premises in Newark, Beginning in the North line of Park Church 
Placel at corner of land conveyed by Enoch Bolles to P. W. and A. D. Smith ; 
thence along said street North 57 dag. 55 min. West 30 feet; thence North- 
east parallel with the East wall of Church of party of the first part 113 feet 
more or less to line of land late of John Morris; thence along above line 
Southeast to the Northwest corner of Isaac Meeker; thence along said 
Meeker aud said Smith's lines South 27 deg. 55 min. West 113 feet 9 iuches 
more or less to the place of Beginning. 

(No. 14.) 

Deed, dated May 21, 1852. Ack'd 
Matthew Ely, and Calista, his wife, May 29, 1852. 

to Bec'd June i, 1852, in Book Z 7, 

William Rankin. p. 361. 

Consideration, $2,000. 
Conveys premises in Newark, being same as described in No. 13. 



(No. 15.) 

Deed, dated Jan. 16, 1855. Ack'd 

nam Atiiuiiijj, iiLiu auigail, Ills _ 

wife, 



William Rankin, aud Abigail, his T 

Jan. 17, 1855. 



Rec'd Jan. 17, 1855, in Book 207, 

New Jersey Historical Society. P " * ., L . -_ , nn 

J Consideration, $2,o00. 

Conveys premises in Newark, being same as described in No. 1 3. 
' Now West Park street. 



i 4 4 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



The New Jersey Historical Society in the Centen- 
nial Naval Parade, April 29, 1889. 

List of invited guests of the New Jersey Historical Society, on Steamer 
"City of Hudson," from Elizabethport. 



Hon. Robert S. Green, Governor, - 

Roberts. Green, Jr., Private Secretary, 

Hon. Henry C. Kelsey, Secretary of State, 
'• Joseph D. Hall, Assistant Secretary of State, 
' • John J. Toff ey, Treasurer, - 

" E J ward J. Anderson, Comptroller, 
'• John P. Stockton, Attorney General, 

General William S. Stryker, Adjutant General, 
'' Lewis Perrine, Quarter Master General, 

Hon. Alexander T. McGill, Chancellor, 
'' John T. Bird, Vice Chancellor, - 
' ' Abraham V. Van Fleet, Vice Chancellor, 
'• Henry C. Pitney, Vice Chancellor, 
'• Benjamin F. Lee, Clerk Supreme Court. 
" Allan L. McDermott, Clerk in Chancery, 
" John H. Stewart, Chaucery Reporter, 
11 Garret D. W. Vrooin, Law Reporter, 
" Morris Hamilton, State Librarian, 
" E. O. Chapman, Supt. Public Instruction, 
'' John H. Patterson, Keeper N. J. State Prison, 
" George H. Cook, State Geologist, 
" James Bishop, Chief of Labor Bureau, 
" Lawrence T. Fell, Factory Inspector, 

Dr. E. M. Huut, Chief of Bureau of Vital Statistics, 

Hon. Mercer Beasley, Chief Justice Supreme Court, 
" Manning M. Knapp, Associate Justice, 
" Edward W. Scudder, Associate Justice, 
" Bennet Van Syckel, Associate Justice, 
" David A. Depue, Associate Justice, 
'' Alfred Reed, Associate Justice, 
" Jonathan Dixon, Associate Justice, 
' ; William J. Magie, Associate Justice, 
" Charles G Garrison, Associate Justice, 
" Hendrick H. Brown, Lay Judge, 
" John Clement, Lay Judge, - 

' ; Jonathan S. Whittaker, Lay Judge, 
" Martin Cole, Lay Judge, - 

" John McGregor, Lay Judge, 
" Edward Burrough, Pres. State Board Agriculture, 



Trenton 



Jersey City 

Trenton 

Flemingtou 

Morristown 

Trenton 



New Brunswick 

Trenton 

Orange 

Trenton 

Hackensack 
Trenton 

Newark 
Trenton 

Jersey City 

Elizabeth 

Camden 

Old Bridge 

- H addonfield 

Millville 

Montague 

Newark 

- Merchantville 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY 



[ 45 



Hon. George A. Halsey, Pres. Board 
James L. Hays, Pies. Board Tr 
Johu R. McPherson, U. S. Sen 
Rufus Blodgett, U. S. Senator, 
Christopher A. Bergen, M. C , 
•laiiics Buchanan, M. C, 
Jar ih A. Geissenhainer, M. G, 
Samuel Fowler, M. G, 
Charles D. Beekwith, M. G, 
Herman Leblbach, M. G, 
William McAdoo, M. G, 
Hubert Adrain, 
Philip P. Baker, 
John W. Bogert, 
William H. Carter, 
George T. Cranmer, - 
William D. Edwards, 
Moses K. Everitt, 
Johu J. Gardner, 
Walter S. Learning, - 
John Mallon, 
Augustus F. P. Martin, 
James L. Miller, - 
Henry M. Neyius, 
William Newell, 
George Pfeiffer, 
Joseph B. Hoe, 
John D. Hue, 
Peter D. Smith, - 
Lewis A. Thompson, 

e T. Werts, 
Martin Wyckoff, 
John Carpenter, Jr., 

John P. Flynu, 

John McCormick, 



Morristown Asylum, 
ustees State Normal School, 



Newark 



H 



n. Andrew J. Bale, 

• 7\[o><s Bigelow, 
Richard Brown, 
Thomas S. Chambers, 
Reuben Cheeseruan, 

'■<'.< '.lie, 

Ephraim Cutter, 
George C. Davis, 
Abram De Ronde, 
Peter T. Donnelly, 

l'i 



it or, - - Belle Mead 

Long Branch 
Camden 
- Washington, D. G 
Freehold, N. J. 
Newton, N. J. 
Paterson, N. J. 
Newark, N. J. 
Jersey City 
Now Brunswick, N. J. Senate 
Viueland, " 

Hohokus, " 

Bordentown, " 

Bamegat, 

Jersey City, '■ 

Flemington, " 

Atlantic City, " 

Cape May City, 
Paterson, ' ' 

Newark, " 

West hold, 

Red Bank, '■ 

Salem, 

Camden, '' 

Woodbury, 
Trenton, 

Waterloo, ' ' 

Somerville, N. J. 
Morristown, (President) N. J. Senate 
Asbury, " 

Clinton, (Secretary) '" 

Salem, (Assistant Secretary) " 
Camden, (Serg't-at-Arms) " 

- Pleasant Valley, N. J. Assembly 
Newark, 

- Jersey City, 
Trenton, 

- Millville, 
Seaville, 

- Woodbridge, 
Wrightstown, 

- Englewood, 
Jersey City, 



146 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



Hou. William H. Darou, 

" Lawrence Fagan, 

" Edward P. Farrell, - 

" John P. Feeney, 

" Judson C. Francois, 

" John Gill, 

" Jonathan Goble, Burrsville, 

' ' Albert Hansell, 

" Chas. F. Harrington, 

" John Harris, 

" Wrn. C. Heppenheimer, 

" Chas. B. Herbert, 

" Archibald A. Higgins, 

" Geo. H. Higgins, 

" John I. Holt, 

li Elirjkalet Hoover, 

" Shepperd S. Hudson, 

" Robert S. Hudspeth, 

" Lsonard Kalisch, 

" Daniel M. Kane, 

" James Keys, 

" Jacob Klotz, 

" Fred'k 0. Marsh, 

" Wm. H. Martin, - 

•' Frank M. McDermitt, 

" Thomas McGowan, 

" Carnot B. Meeker, 

'' Samuel B. Mutchler, 

" Wm. S. Naughrigbt, 

lt John Norris, 

" James F. Norton, 

" Patrick H. O'Neill, 

" William F. Paterson, 

" Edward B. Potts, - 

" Richard A. Price, 

' ' Adrian Riker, 

" Joseph Schmelz, 

" John Schroth, 

" Ariel T. Scudder, 

" Adam C. Smith, - 

" Thomas W. Trenchard, 

" Reuben Trier, 

" Lawrence H. Trimmer, 

" John Ulrich, 

" Foster M. Voorhees, - 



- Vincentown, 
Hoboken, 

- East Newark, 
Jersey City, 

- West Hoboken, 
Orange, 

- Burrsville, 
Rancocas, 

- Lyndhurst, 
Camden, 

- Jersey City, 
New Brunswick, 

- Manasquan, 
Clementon, 

- Paterson, 
Washington, 

- Mays Landing, 
Jersey City, 

- Newark, 

New Brunswick, 

- Paterson, 
Belle Mead, 

- Elizabeth, 
Frenchtown, 

- Newark, 
Bloomrield, 

- Madison, 
Phillipsburgh, 

- Middle Valley, 



N. J. Assembly 



Jersey City, 

- Chapel Hill, 
Imlaystown, 

- Newark, 
Newark, 

- Newark, 
Trenton, 

- Trenton, 
Camden, 

- Bridgeton, 
Newark, 

- Middle Valley, 
Plaiuriekl, 

- Elizabeth 



Rockaway 

Jersey City 

N. J. Assembly 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 



'17 



Hon John C. Wood, - 

" Win. W. Welch, 

" James West, ... 

" George W. Wiedenmayer, 

" Charles T. Woodward, 
John J. Matthews, - 
James E. Connelly, ... 
P. H. Cornish, 

Maj. General Joseph W. Plume, and ten Staff Officers, 
Brig. Gen. Dudley S. Steele and niue Staff Officers, 



N. J. Assembly 



Centreton, 
Paterson, 

Bridget! >n, " 

Newark, ' ' 

Patersun, " 

Elizabeth, (Clerk), " 
Jersey City, (Ass. Ck). " 
Newark, (Sergt.-at-Arms). 

Newark 
Jersey City 



Brig. (Ten. William J. Sewell and nine Staff Officers, - Camden 

Bev. Dr. S. M. Harnill, Pres. N. J. Hist. Soc. and seven members, Trenton 
Mr. J. C. Puinpelly, Sec. Soc. Sons of the Bevolution and seven 

members, ...... Morristown 

Mr. Francis Barber Ogden, Sec. Soc. Cincinnati and fifteen mem- 
bers, - 113 Broadway, N. Y. City 
Mr. Jonathan W. Roberts, Washington Headquarters Ass'n and 

sown members, - Morristown 

Col. Edmund L. Joy, Military Order Loyal Legion and twenty- 
three members, - Newark 
J. Frank Jennings, Grand Master I. O. O. F. and seven Grand 

Officers, ------ Newark 

Charles M. Mann, Grand Master F. & A. M. and seven Graud 

Officers, -.-... Haddonfield 

('apt. William B. E. Miller, Dept. Commander G. A. R. and seven 

Dept. Officers, - Camden 

Gen. E. Burd Grubb, Philadelphia City Troop and forty-four 
members of the Troop (local address, Edgewater Park, 
N. J. ), - - - - Philadelphia, Pa 

Hon. Rodman M. Price, ex-Governor, - Ramapo 

" Joseph D. Bedle, ex-Governor, - Jersey City 

" George C. Ludlow, ex-Governor, - - New Brunswick 

" Leon Abbett, ex-Governor, ----- Jersey City 

" E. A. Wilkinson, Pres. State Agricultural Soc. , - Newark 

" N. S. Rue, Pres. Reform School, - Cream Ridge 

•• Uudolphus Bingham, Pres. Industrial School, - Camden 

Col. Henry M. Sawyer, Commissioner of Sinking Fund, - Trenton 

Hon. John H. Laird, C umnissioner of Sinking Fund, - Trenton 

" Bennington F. Ran lolph, Pres. Riparian Commission, - Trenton 

•• Edward Bettle, Pres. State Board of Assessors, - Camden 

Rt. Rev. Bishop Scarborough, ----- Trenton 

" " Starkey, ... . Orange 

O'Farrell, ----- Trenton 

" " Wigger, ----- Newark 

President of Princeton College. ----- Princeton 



I4S 



Fit? TV YEARS Of 



President of Rutgers College, - 
Seton Hall College, 
" Drew Theological Seminary, 

" Princeton Theological Seminary, 

" Pecldie Institute, - - - 

" Peuuington Seminary, 

Wm. Nelson, ----- 
Maj. H. W. Adams, 

Dr. S. H. Pennington, - ■ 

Dr. Stephen Wickes, - 

Hon. F. VV. Ricord, - 

" Joseph E. Haynes, - 

" Mayor Grier, - 

" Nathan Barnert, 

" G. A. Hobart, -* 

" J. B. Cleveland, 

" Thos. T. Kinney, 

'• John F. Hageiuan, 

" John I. Blair, 
Rev. Geo. S. Mott, D. D., 
Dr. Henry Race, - 

A. A. Vance, - 

Hon. George Wurts, . - - - 

" John Hopper, - - 

Wm. M. Hunt, Press Register, 
Noah Brooks, Advertiser, - 
Maj. Z. K. Pangborn, 
Col. J. Madison Drake, 
Howard W. H<yes, 
Robert F. Ballantine, 
Wm. Clark, 

Hon. John T. Nixon, Judge U. S. District Court, 
Prof. Austin Scott, - 

" Henry C. Cameron, - 

" Alexander N. Johnson, 
Rev. Geo. S. Bishop, 

" Aaron Lloyd, - 
Ernest E. Coe, - - 

Hon. Joseph Coult, - 
Geo. G. Halstead, - 
Rev. Wm. M. Hughes, 
Charles C. McBride, Journal, 
John Y. Foster, - 

John L. Murphy, - - - - 

C. M. Herrick, - 



New Brunswick 

Orange 

Madison 

- Princeton 
Hightstown 
Pennington 

Paterson 

- Elizabeth 

Newark 

Orange 

Newark 

Newark 

Elizabeth' 

Paterson 

Paterson 

- Jersey City 

Newark 

Princeton 

BLtirstown 

Flemiugton 

Pittstown 

- Morristown 

Paterson 

Paterson 

Newark 

Newark 

Jersey City 

- Elizabeth 

Newark 

Newark 

Newark 

Trenton 

New Brunswick 

Princeton 

Princeton 

Orange 

B lleville 

Newark 

- Newark 

Paterson 

Morristown 

- Elizabeth 

Newark 
Trenton 
Paterson 



HISTORICAL WOK K IX NEW JERSEY. 



149 



E K. Bird, 

Sinnickson Chew, 

Geo. F. Spinney, Times, 

A. L. Bridgman, Press Ass'n, - 
I'. L Godkin, Evening Post, 

.). M. Bundy, Mail and Express, 

Henry Lowenthal, Times, 

R >v. John Hall, D. D., 

Rev. T. A. Nelson, D. D., 

Hon Thomas Nelson, 

William Nelson Johnston, 

Saj res < >. Nichols, 

William Cloke, 

Hon. It. Wayne Parker, 

Win. Strange, 

President Board of Trade, 

E L. Dobbins, 

( 1. Bockwood, 
AH) it 1 '.aid win, 
J. Hart Bruere, 
Joseph H. Bruere, 
Edward M. Douglass, 
L. II. Roberts, 

Rev. Ceo. 11 W'hitney, D. D., 
Hon. W. W. Marsh, - 
Gen. Janus P. Kusling, 
Henry A. Potter, 
Rev. John H. Butterworth, 
Win. John Potts, 
Rev. Edwin E. Butler, 
Bobert A. Granuis, 
Hon. P. H. Lum, - 
Rev. Robert Aikman, - 
lion. Mr. Coursen, 
1;. v. Otis ( '. ( Hazebrook, 
Edward J. Hall, Jr., 
Jeremiah Baker, 

B. Williamson, Jr., 

Rev. <;. R. Crooks, D. D. , 
" John Miley, D. D., 
•• .iain< s Strong, D. D., 
•• Henry A. Buttz, D. D., 
" P. S. Upham, D. D., 

John M. Young, 



Hackensack 
Camden 

- New York 
New York 

- New York 
New York 

- New York 

Trenton 

Brooklyn 

Indianapolis 

Indianapolis 

Newark 

Trenton 

Newark 

Paterson 

Jersey City 

Trenton 

- Newark 
Newark 

- Newark 
Trenton 
Trenton 
Newark 
Madison 

Hackettstown 

Schoolers Mountain 

Trenton 

- Orange 
Summit 
Camden 
Madison 

Morris Plains 

Chatham 

Madison 

Morristuwu 

Elizabeth 

Morristown 

Madison 

- Elizabeth 

Madison 



^5° 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



Euos Wilder, 
Hon. Alfred Mills. 
Dr. Calvin Anderson, - 
Rev. John McNaughton, 
General Greene, 
Hon. Nathaniel Niles, 
Erastns Witnan, 
Rev. Dr. Merritt, - 
James Nelson, 
Charles H. A. Nelson, 



Madison 
Morristown 

Madison 
Morristown 

Madison 

Staten Island 

Morristown 

Montreal 



The Centennial Medal. 

The test or "strike," being the first medal struck by Tiffany & Co., from 
the die, was of the following dimensions: 



Diameter, ... 

Thickness, wide edge, 
Weight, silver, 

" bronze, about the same. • 



60 mm. 

.075 mm. 
89§ dwts. 



After the first medal was struck it was discovered that there was an error 
in the quotation from Washington, which read: "Above all things hold fast 
your National Union," whereas it should have read "Above all thiugs hold 
dear your National Union." The mistake was corrected in the die. 

On December 16, 1893, there were struck for the Society, from the same 
die, at the United States mint, in Philadelphia, twenty silver and fifty bronze 
medals, the dimensions being as follows:- 

Diameter, ...... 

Thickness, ------ 

Weight when struck in fine gold, ... 

" '' " silver, - - - 

" " " copper bronze, 

The cost of the dies was as follows: 
Paid Tiffany & Co., for designing and engraving, 

" " " " changing the word ''fast" to "dear," 



2 5-16 in. 


3-16 in. 


4.95 oz. 


3.16 oz. 


3.55 oz. 


$456.00 


40.00 



Total cost of dies, ... 

The cost of the medals struck was as follows : 

One gold medal, - 

Paid U. S. Mint, for silver and bronze medals, 

express charges, - 

for blank book for record of medals, 

for printed receipts, 

for numbering medals, - - - 



$496.00 



$189.00 
1.25 
5.00 
2.00 
4.75 



$131.60 



$202.00 

$829.60 

i These data were given me by Tiffany & Co., in a letter of August 24, 1898. 
2 These details were furnished by Henry K. Boyer, Superintendent of the Mint, 
in letters of August 23. 1898. and Sept. 29, 1898. 



HISTORICAL WORK IN NEW JERSEY. 



•5i 



The Committee received the following 
the dies: 

Robert F. Ballautme, Newark, 
Johu I. Blair, Blairstowu, - 
John H. Ballantine, Newark, 
Nathaniel Niles, Madison, - 
Abram S Hewitt, New York, - 
Garret D. W. Vroorn, Trenton, 
William Nelson, Paterson, 



contributions toward the cost of 

$100.(10 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

25.00 

25.00 

25.00 



$475.00 



('jntribntions toward cost of gold medal: 
L. Spencer Goble, Newark, 
Garret A. Hobart, Paterson, - 
William Nelson, Paterson, 
Nathaniel Niles, Madison, 
"William R. Weeks, Newark, 

Beceived from sale of medals, 



$10.00 
10.00 
10.00 
10.00 
10.00 



Excess of cost over receipts, ' .... 

The following is a list of subsciibers to the medals,- in the older 
subscriptions: 

William Nelson, Paterson, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 

William A. Bighter, Newark, - - - - 

Samuel A. Farrand, Newark, - 

William R. Weeks, Newark, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 

Elias Vosseller, Flemingtou, - 

Josiah Collins Pumpelly, Union League Club, N. Y., 

Mrs B. Williamson, Jr., Elizabeth, 

C. L. Traver, Trenton, - 

Franklin B. Levis, Mt. Holly, - 

Dr. James B. Burnet, Newark, - - - 

Edmund D. Halsey, Morristown, - - - - 

Garret D. W. Vroom, Trenton, 

Frank O. Briggs, Trenton, - 

Edwin A. Ely, 103 Gold street, New York, 

John P. Hutchinson, Bordeutowu, silver, 

Hiram E. Deats, Flemingtou, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 

Eenrv R. Cannon, M. D, Elizabeth, 



50.00 
131.50 

$659.50 
170.10 

$829.60 
of their 

2 copies 
1 copy 

1 " 

3 copies 
1 copy 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

1 " 

2 copies 
1 copy 



i This deficiency has been assumed by Mr. Niles 

trd the Centennial Medal Fund. $280.10. 
- Pro< dings, 2d Series, XIII., 40. 



making his total contribution 



*5 2 



FIFTY YEARS OF 



Edward B. Sterling, Trenton, 
Clifford Stanley Sims, Mt. Holly, silver, 
Bradford Historical Society, England, silver, 
Braiutree (Mass.) Historical Society, silver, 



1 copy 

1 '■ 
1 " 
1 " 



A silver medal (No. 2) was voted by the Society to Gov. Robert S. Green, 
of New Jersey, and was presented to bis family after bis death. A silver 
medal was also voted to each member of the Committee on Centennial Medal, 
and a copy in broDze to each contributor toward the cost of tbe dies. The 
following is an approximately correct list of the medals subscribed for and of 
those ordered to be presented, alphabetically arranged : 

Harrison, Benjamin, ..... 

Green, Robert S., 



Ballautine, John H , 

Ballautiue, Itobert F. , - 

Blair, Jobn L, 

Bradford (England) Historical Society, 

Braintree (Mass.) Historical Society, 

Briggs, Frank O. , 

Burnet, Dr. James B., 

Cannon, Dr. Henry R., 

Deats, Hiram E., 

Ely, Edwin A., - 

Farrand, Samuel A. , 

Halsey, Edmund D., 

Hamill, the Kev. Dr. Samuel M., - 

Hewitt, Abram S., 

Hutcbiuson, John P., 

Levis, Franklin B , 

Nelson, William,! ... 

Niles, Nathaniel, 2 

Pumpelly, Josiah Collins, 

Righter, William A. , - 

Sims, Clifford Stanley, 

Sterling, Edward B, - 

Traver, C. L., 

Vosseller, Elias, 

Vroom, Garret D. W., 

Weeks, William R., 

Williamson, Mrs. B., Jr., 



i Also the silver test or " strike." 
2 Also the bronze test or ''strike." 



Silver 
1 
1 
1 

1 

1 



Gold 
Silver 
Bronze 



16 



1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 

2U 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



I. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 

Constitutiou and by-laws, with the circular of the executive committee. 
[Newark.] 1845. 8vo. pp. 23. 

Same. Revised edition. Newark, 1848. 8vo. pp. 16. 
Same. Revised edition. Newark, 1854. 8vo. pp. 16. 
Same. Amended May 19, 1870. Newark, 1870. 8vo. pp. 18. 

Publications of the Society, pp. 19-24. 
Same. Amended May 15, 1890. Newark, 1890. 8vo. pp. 13. 
Same. Revised May 20, 1897. Newark, 1897. 8vo. pp. 21. Char- 
ter, pp. 3-8. Publications of the Society, pp. 22-23. 

II. PROCEEDINGS. 

First Sekies. 

Vol. I. Proceedings, 1845-4G: Discourse, May 7, 1845, by Charles King 
(on New Jersey colonial history); Journal of Capt. John Schuyler on an ex- 
pedition to Canada in August, 1690; Three letters from Samuel Davies, 
President of Princeton College, 1759-1760; Address, September 4, 1845, 
by Samuel Miller, D. D. ; Three letters from Governor William Franklin to 
bis father, Dr. Franklin, 1767-1769; Letter from William Strahan, London, 
1766; Letter from Lord Cornbury to inhabitants of Bergen, 17C6; Letter 
from William Dockwra to Gov. Andrew Hamilton, April 1, 1693; An account 
of a journey in the Southern States in 1781, by Abel Thomas; An account 
of the capture and death of the refugee John Bacon, by G. F. Fort; The 
discovery and settlement of Monmouth county, by A. A. Marcellus; Sehuy- 
ler genealogy; Exports of Salem county, 1845; Criminal statistics of Essex 
coivntj, 1838-1845; Proceedings of the committees of Freehold and Shrews- 
bury on the opening of the Revolution. Newark, 1847. 8vo., pp. (4), 203. 

Vol. II. Proceedings, J846-47: Proceedings of the government of New 
York, December, 1675. to December, 1678, in relation to the settlement and 
jurisdiction of Maj. John Fenwick in West Jersey; Journal of Lieut. Wil- 
liam Barton during Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in 1779; Ex- 
fcracts from the journal of Ebenezer Elmer during the same expedition; Sec- 
ond annual address, by J. C. Hornblower; Diary of events in Charleston, S. 
('.. from M ucb 20 to April 'JO, 1780, during the siege by the British, by Sam- 
ui 1 Baldwin; Journal of an expedition to Canada in K76, by Ebenezer El- 
mer; Letter from Richard Stockton to Robert Ogden about public affairs, 
1765. Newark, 1848. 8vo., pp. (2), 19S. 

Vol. III. Proceedings, 1848-49: Letter from James Logan, June, 1719, 
relative to the dividing line of East and West Jersey; Journal of Ebenezer 
20 



'54 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 



Elmer continued; Letter from David Ogden, February 20. 1767, to the claim- 
ants under Indian purchases; Memoir of Rev. James Caldwell, by Nicholas 
Murray, D. D. ; Diary of Jacob Spicer, 1757, of Cape May County; Brief 
account of the Swedish Mission in Raccoon and Penn's Neck, by Nicholas 
Collin, D. D. ; Biographical sketch of Governor William Franklin, by Wil- 
liam A. Wbitehead; Letter from Governor Franklin to his father, December 
21, 1774; Journal of Maj. William Gould during an expedition into Penn- 
sylvania, 1794 (whiskey insurrection"). Newark, 1849. 8vo., pp. (4), - _01. 

Vol. IV. Proceedings, 1849-50: Memoir of Governor Lewis Morris, by 
Robert Davidson, D. D. ; Census of Northampton, N J., 1709; List of 
judges, clerks, sheriffs, surrogates, and attorneys of Salem County, N. J.; 
Memoir of John Fenwick, by Robert G. Johnson; Letters from William 
Strabau describing trial of John Wilkes; State of religion in the provinces 
of East and West Jersey in 1700; Tbe battle of Monmouth Court House, by 
Charles King; Letters on the suspension of hostilities between the United 
States and Great Britain, 1783; Letter from Kev. U. Ogdea, missionary to 
Sussex County, 1771; Lease from Elizabeth Carteret to the Twelve Proprie- 
tors for East Jersey ; The aborigines of New Jersey, by Archer Gifford. New- 
ark, 1850. 8vo., pp. (4), 200. 

Vol. V. Proceedings, 1850-51: Letter of Major-General Steuben to offi- 
cers of the New Jersey line, July 19, 1783; Tables of the sittings of the Pro- 
vincial assemblies, and names of members; Orders of Generals Schuyler and 
Sullivan to Col. J. Dayton, 1776, directing him to proceed to Johnstown, N. 
Y., for the purpose of capturing Sir John Johnson; The robbery of the 
treasury of East Jersey iu 17C8, and contemporaneous events, by W. A. 
Whitehead ; The Hollanders in New Jersey, by Abraham Messier, D. D. ; The 
American Union, and the perils to which it has been exposed, by J. P. Brad- 
ley; Letters of Joseph Shei wood, agent for the Province of New Jersey in 
Great Britain, 1761 to 1766; Selections from the correspondence of William 
Alexander, Earl of Stirling, major-general during the Revolution. Newark, 
1851. 8vo., pp. (4), 200. 

Vol. VI. Proceedings, 1851-1853: Letter from Robert Morris, 1781; 
Journal of Andrew Bell during the march of the British army through New 
Jersey in 1778; An inquiry into the location of Mount Ployden, the seat of 
the Raritau King, by George C. Schanck; Review of the trial of Rev. Wil- 
liam Tennent for perjury, iu 1742, by Richard S. Field; Selections from cor- 
respondence of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling; The uses and benefits of 
historical societies, by T. Freliughuysen ; Letter on the site of Fort Nas- 
sau, by E. Armstrong; The Pennsylvania insurrection of 1791, by James 
Carnahau, D. D. ; Report on the site of Fort Nassau ; The discovery of 
America by the Northmen, by C. C. Rafu; The history and location of Fort 
Nassau upon the Delaware, by Edward Armstrong. Newark, 1853. 8vo., pp. 
(4), 212. 

Vol. VII. Proceedings, 1853-1855: Letter of "Pierwim, ye Sachem of 
Pau," relative to "Cooks of dozens," in the first volume of the Collections; 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. l$$ 

Biographical sketch of Gen. William Winds, by J. F. Tuttle; Selections 
from correspondence of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, continued; 
Proceedings on death of James G. King; "The iron state, its natural position, 
power and wealth," by Jacob W. Miller; Diary of Joseph Clark, attached 
to the Continental Army, May, 1778, to November, 177'.); Letter from Rev. 
Samuel Hopkins to Rev. Dr. Bellamy, July 20, 1758, describing battle of 
Ticonderoga. Newark, 1855. 8vo. , pp. (4), 151. 

Vol. VIII. Proceedings, 1856-1859: Drawings and papers of Robert 
Fulton in the possession of the Society ; Account of the establishment at Mor- 
ristown of the first (Morris) academy, library, and printing press; Extracts 
from manuscripts of Samuel Smith (on history of New Jersey); Field and 
staff officers of New Jersey regiments in the Revolution; Appointment of 
Nathaniel Jones as chief justice in 1759, by W. A. Whitehead; Journal of 
Capt. David Ford, during expedition into Pennsylvania in 1794 (whiskey in- 
surrection); Proposals of Colonel Mawhood to militia of Salem County, N. J., 
in 1778; Female suffrage in New Jersey, by W. A. Whitehead; A brief his- 
tory of the boundary disputes between New York and New Jersey, by J. Par- 
ker; Stateu Island, part of New Jersey; Journal of Lieut. Isaac Bangs, 
1776; Northern boundary line: the circumstances leading to the establish- 
ment in 1769 of the northern boundary line between New Jersey and New 
York, by W. A. Whitehead. Newark, 1859. 8vo., pp. (4), 192. Map. 

Vol. IX. Proceedings, 1860-1861: Transcripts of S. Smith, continued; 
Marriages of Friends in Philadelphia, 16S2-1714; Origin of the name 
" Pavonia," by S. Alofsen; Memoir of Samuel J. Smith, with some reminis- 
cences of Burlington, by J. J. Smith; Project of W. Pinhorne to raise 
money by paper bills in New Jersey, 1716; Extracts from the minutes of the 
New Jersey supreme court, 1765; The battles of Trenton and Princeton, by 
C. C. Haven; Memoranda relating to Dr. Franklin's administration of the 
colonial post-office; Memoir of Mrs. Abigail Stafford and her times, by S. S. 
Stafford; Proprietors' order respecting "Perth Towne," 16S3; Affairs of New 
York and New Jersey under the joint governors, by C. Colden; Steamboat 
controversy between New York and New Jersey, from 1811 to 1824, by J. D. 
Ward; Scandinavian settlements in New Jersey; Journal of Captain Dayton 
on an expedition to Detroit in 1764 (with other papers). Newark, 1864. 8vo., 
pp. (D, 214. 

Vol. X. Proceedings, 1865-66: Address on the life and character of the 
Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, by 11. S. Field; Sketch of the McWhorter 
family in New Jersey, by G. C. McWhorter; Description of an ancient brass 
tobacco box, by S. Alofsen; Instructions of freeholders of Hunterdon to the 
representatives of the county, 1771; Papers on the eastern boundary of 
New Jersey, by W. A. Whitehead; The derivation of ' * Neversink, " by A. 
Taylor; Letter to Benjamin Franklin from the house of assembly of New 
Jersey, December 7, 176'.*; Portrait of Aaron Burr in the possession of the 
Society, by David A. Hayes; Objections of New Jersey to the Articles of Con- 
federation, June 23, 1778; Uepartof the commissioners of the States at An- 



I56 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 

rmpolis, September 14, 1786; List of Honorary, Corresponding and Besident 
Members of the Society. Newark, 1867. 8vo., pp. (4), 195. Map. 

Second Seeies. 

Vol. I. Proceedings, 1S67-1869: Pedigree of Governor Carteret; Staten 
Island and tbe New Jersey boundary; Regimental returns and brigade orders, 
Haddonfield, Bordentown, Morristown, December, 1776, and January, 1777; 
Inscriptions on tombstones near Freehold; Letter from Gen. N. Greene to 
Col. James Abeel, Pompton, June 4, 1779; Letter from Gen. Washington to 
B. Franklin, Oct. 9, 17S0; Notes on the State of New Jersej', 1786, by John 
Butherfurd; Letter from Col. W. S. Livingston to Aaron Burr, July 10, 1782, 
congratulating him on his marriage; Officers of Col. Peter Schuyler's regi- 
ment, 1759 ; Letter from Gen. Washington to Bev. Samuel Haven, March 
10, 1787; Inscriptions on tombstones at Bingwood; Grant from Berkley 
and Carteret to the people of Woodbridge and Samuel Moore, 1672; Life 
and character of James Parker, by B. S. Field; heview of some of the cir- 
cumstances connected with the settlement of Elizabeth, N. J., by W. A. 
Whitehead; Commercial projects of New Jersey during the Confederation, 
1783, by J. Butherfurd. Newark, 1869. 8vo., pp. (1), 188. 

Vol. II. Proceedings, 1870-1872: Early history of Morris County, by J. 
F. Tuttle: Sketch of Bev. Barnabas King, by J. F. Tuttle; Obituary notice 
of Dauiel V. McLean; Memoir of Andrew Kirkpatrick, by J. G. Wilson; 
Memoir of B. S. Field, by A. Q. Keasbey; History of the first constitution of 
New Jersey, by L. Q. C. Elmer; Letter from Morgan L. Smith on David G. 
Buruet; The New Jersey church of Warren County, Ohio, by A. D. Schenck; 
Why New Jersey is called a foreign country; Communication from C. C. 
Haven upon the United States flag; The flag of "Le Bon Homme Richard," 
by Miss Sarah Smith Stafford; Memoir of the life and chaxacter of John Buth- 
erfurd, by B. S. Swords; Circumstances attending the election of William 
Pennington, of New Jersey, as Speaker of the Thirty-sixth Congress, by J. 
T. Nixon. Newark, 1S72. 8vo., pp. (1), 226. 

Vol. III. Proceedings, 1872-1874: Monmouth Comity during the provin- 
cial era, by Joel Parker; Old Fort or Block House at Trenton, by C. Megill; 
Passages from the journals of Mauasseh Cutler, referring; to New Jersey, Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio in 1787-88; Sketch of Dr. Jabez Campfield, of Morris- 
town, surgeon in the Bevolution, by Edmund D. Halsey; Original docu- 
ments deposited by Mrs. Charlotte L. Butherfurd; Diary of Jabez Camp- 
field during Sullivan's expedition, 1779; Report on the Records of Bergen 
County, by William Nelson; Letters from Richard Stockton to John Buth- 
erfurd, Senators from New Jersey, in 1798. Newark, 1874. 8vo., pp. 
(4), 196. 

Vol. IV. Proceedings, 1875-1877: Origin and signification of geo- 
graphical names in Monmouth and Ocean counties, by Edwin Salter; 
An interesting memento of Major Andre, by William Nelson; Fragmentary 
history of the New Jersey Indians, by Samuel Alliuson ; Life and character 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 157 

of Hon. William L. Dayton, by Joseph P. Bradley; Biographical sketch of 
Captain William Colfax, by William Nelson; Letter of Lewis Morris to the 
people of Elizabethtown, July 13, 1698; Memoir of Col. Philip Johnson, by 
W. s. Stryker; Memoir of John De Hart, by P. W. Throckmorton; Memoir 
of Richard Stockton, by W. A. Whitehead. Newark, 1877. 8vo., pp. (4), 
204. 

Vol. V. Proceedings, 1877-1879: Centennial celebrations in the State; 
Life and public services of John Cleves Symmes, by C. H. Winfield; First 
oentnry of Hunterdon County, by G. S. Mott; Letter of Mrs. William 
Franklin, February 5, 1776; Resting place of the remains of Columbus, by 
W. A. Whitehead; Memorial of Col. John Bayard, by J. G. Wilson; Letter 
on Brotherton Indian Lands in Burlington, by Robert Gilchrist; Names of 
families of Little Egg Harbor of whom the genealogy has been published; 
The bones of Columbus, by R. S. Swords; Memoir of Joseph Henry, by J. 
0. Moffat. Newark, 1879. 8vo., pp. (4), 208. 

Vol. VI. Proceedings, 1879-1881: Memoir of Rev. R. K. Rodgers, by 
Rev. George Sheldon; Character and employments of the early settlers on 
the seacoast of New Jersey, by A. H. Brown; Letter from archbishop of 
Santo Domingo, relating to the remains of Columbus; Origin of the pension 
laws; Account of two maps of America, published in 1550 and 1555, by 
Henry Phillips, jr. ; Letters on the old forest that once stood in the marsh be- 
tween Newark and Bergen Hill; Hibernia furnace and the surrounding 
country in the Revolutionary war, by J. F. Tuttle. Newark, 1881. 8vo., 
pp. (l). 182. 

Vol. VI [. Proceedings, 1882-83: The bi-centennial of the purchase of 
Fast New Jersey by the proprietors, by A. Q. Keasbey; Memoir of Capt. 
Eliakim Littell, of Essex County, N. J., by S. Littell; Memoir of Brig. Gen. 
Anthqny Walton White, by Anna M. W. Woodhull; Taxes and money in 
New Jersey before the Revolution, by R. Wayne Parker; Josiah Hornblower 
and the first steam engine in America, with some notices of the Schuyler cop- 
per mines at Second River, and a Genealogy of the Hornblower Family, by 
William Nelson; Sketch of the life of Gen. William Irvine, by G. W. 
Howell; Memoir of the Gardiner family of West Jersey, by S. Littell. New- 
ark, 1883. 8vo., pp. (4), 276. Portrait. 

Vol. VIII. Proceedings, 1884 S5: Sketch of the life of L. Q. C. 
Elmer, by William E. Potter: Memorial of Samuel Alliuson, "the phi- 
lanthropist of New Jersey," by John F. Hageman; the strategic relations 
of New Jersey to the war for American independence, by H. B. Carrington; 
Sketch of the life aud character of William A. Whitehead, by S. I. Prime; 
bayard, of New Jersey, ami bis Loudon diary of 1795-96, by J. G. 
Wilson. Newark, 1885. 8vo., pp. ( 1). 226. 

Vol. IX. Proceedings, 1MS6 s7: Life, character and services of Fred- 
erick T. Frelinghuysen, LL. !>., by J. F. Hageman; Some notices of Gov- 
eroor Joseph Bloomfield, by William Nelson; Jonathan Pitney, fifty years of 



t$$> emr.IOCRAPHY OF THfi 

progress in South Jersey, by Allen H. Brown; A historical sketch of Miss 
Jennie McCrea, by Henry Bace; Marcus Lawrence Ward, by F. W. Ricord; 
Tbe early cities of New Jersey, by Austin Scott; The founding of Paterson, as 
the intended manufacturing metropolis of the United States, by W. Nelson; 
Contributions to the early history of tbe Reformed Dutch Church of Second 
River, by Aaron Lloyd; Historic Old Tennent, by R. C. Hallock; Sketch 
of the Schooley family, by B. White; Sketch of Col. Oliver Spencer. New- 
ark, 1887. 8vo., pp. (4), 200, xi. Two portraits and map. 

Vol. X. Proceedings, 1888-89. The Hessians in New Jersey, by A. D. 
Mellick, jr.; Joel Parker, "The war governor of New Jersey," by J. S. 
Yard; The first minister of Orange, N. J., 1718, by Stephen Wickes; 
Martha J. Lamb, the historian, by Mrs. F. H. Piersou; Our French allies in 
the Bevolution, by J. C. Pumpelly; Report on the centennial of the Federal 
government. Newark, 1890. 8vo., pp. (4), 208. 

Vol. XI, Proceedings, 1890-1891: Report of executive committee on the 
origin of the Society, with list of officers, 1845-1890; Rev. Samuel McClin- 
tock Hamill, D. D. , a memoir, by Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, D. L\ ; 
John T. Nixon, memoir, by A. Q. Keasbey; George H. Cook, memoir, by 
James Neilson; Dr. Stephen Wickes, a memoir, by Joseph Parrish, M. D. ; 
August Hermann. Bohemian, 1G05-1G86, by James Grant Wilson; Mahlon 
Dickersou, industrial pioneer aud old-time patriot, by J. C. Pumpelly; Con- 
tributions to Hunterdon County history, by Henry Bace, M. D. ; Memoir of 
Joseph Parrish, M. D., by Samuel H. Pennington, M. D. ; Greenland in 
New Jersey, a historical sketch of the Moravian settlement in Sussex Coun- 
ty, 1768 to 1808, by Henry Bace, M. D. Newark, 1892. 8vo., pp. (4), 205, 
xiv. Portraits. 

Vol. XII. Proceedings, 1892-1893: Donations to the Library in 1891, of 
books relating to New Jersey; Bev. Alanson A. Haines, by Edmund D. Hal- 
sey; Autobiography of Col. Aaron Ogden, of Elizabethtown; Sir George Car- 
teret, lord proprietor of New Jersey, with a notice of the isle of Jersey, and 
a brief sketch of Lord John Berkley, by William Nelson; The first pottery 
in New Jersey (1GS5); The early days of the Newark Academy, extracts from 
old newspapers, gleaned by \Ym. Nelson; Abraham Coles, a character sketch, 
by F. W. Ricord; List of resident members of the Society, Jan. 1, 1893; 
Books relating to New Jersey, published in 1892; Mr. Justice Bradley, of the 
United States Supreme Court, by Cortlandt Parker; The Bev. Jacob Green, 
of Hanover, N. J., as an author, statesman and patriot, by Joseph F. Tuttle, 
D. D. Newark, 1894. 8vo., pp. (4), 250. Two portraits. 

Vol. XIII. Proceedings, 18?4-1895: Report of Executive Committee; 
Necrology; Beport on Centennial Medal; Extension of Society's charter; 
Notes, Queries aud Beplies; Some Unpublished Bevolutionary Manuscripts; 
List of freeholders of the County of Essex, 1755; Books relating to the his- 
tory of New Jersey, jDublished in 1892-1893; Extracts from Trinity Church 
Records, Newark, 1746-1815; Subscribers to the Centennial Medal; Samuel 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 159 

Spicer aud his descendants, with some notices of the early settlements of Cam- 
den and Cape May Counties, Ly John It. Stevenson M. D. ; The Great Seal of 
New Jersey, by Francis Ba/ley Lee; Report of Executive Committee, arrange- 
ments for the Society's semi-centennial; Necrology; Notes, Queries aud Re- 
plies; Some Unpublished Revolutionary Manuscripts; List of the fieeholders 
of Middlesex, about 1750; memoir of George A. Halsey, by William T. Hunt ; 
William Maxwell, of New Jersey, brigadier general in the Revolution, by J. 
H. Griffith, M. D. ; Necrology; Report of Committee on Colonial and Revo- 
lutionary Documents; Notes, Queries and Replies; Books relating to New 
Jersey History and Biography, published in 1894; Some Unpublished Revo- 
lutionary Manusciipts; Some records of the French in Elizabethtowu, by 
Mrs. Emeline G. Pierson; Notes, Queries and Replies; Proceedings at Semi- 
centennial Celebration of the Society; Fifty Years of Historical Work in 
New Jersey, address by William Nelson, with bibliography of the Society; 
A Highway of the Nation, address by Austin Scott, in presenting gold cen- 
tennial medal to ex-President Benjamin Harrison; Response, by ex-President 
Harrison; The Course of American History, by Woodrow Wilson. Paterson, 
is: is. 8vo., pp. (4.), . 

HI. COLLECTIONS. 

Vol. I. East Jersey under tbe proprietary governments; a narrative of 
events connected with the settlement and progress of the province, until the 
Surrender of the government to the crown, in 1702. Drawn principally from 
original sources. By William A. Whitehead.' With an appendix, containing 
"The model of the government of East New- Jersey, in America ." by George 
Scot, of Pitlochie. Now hist reprinted from tbe original edition of 1685. 
[Newark.] 1846. 8vo., pp. viii, (2), 341. Maps. 

Same. Second edition, revised aud enlarged. Newark, 1875. 8vo., 
pp. viii, ('2), 486. Maps. 

Vol. IT. The life of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling; major general 
in the army of the United States, during the Revolution : with selections from 
his correspond encs. By his grandsou, William Alexander Duer, LL. D. 
New York, 1817. 8vo., pp. xvi, 272. Portrait. Plans of Battles. 

Vol. III. The provincial courts of New Jersey, with sketches of tbe 
bench and bar. A Discourse, read before the New Jersey Historical Socie- 
ty, by Richard S. Field. (With appendix, containing instructions to Lord 
» ' irnbury; Lord Cornbury's Commission; Lord Cornbury's Ordinance for es- 
tablishing courts of Judicature; Gov. Robert Hunter's Ordinance for estab- 
lishing courts of Judicature within the Province of New Jersey, April 17, 
1711: < lovernor William Burnet's ( Ordinance fur regulating the courts of Ju- 
dicature in the Province of New Jersey, April 23. 1721; other Ordinances 
by Governor Burnet, August 21, 1725, and Feb. 10, 172s.] New York, 1819. 
8vo., pp. xi, (1), 311, (1). 

Vol. IV. The papers of Lewis Morris, governor of the province of New 
Jersey, from 173S to 1746. [Edited, with introductory memoir, and connect- 



l6o BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 

ing narrative, by William A. Whitehead.] New York, 1852. 8vo., pp. xxxii, 
333. Publications of the Society, pp. 331-5. Portrait of [Col.— not Gov. — ] 
Lewis Morris. 

Vol. V. An analytical index to the colonial documents of New Jersey, in 
the state paper offices of England. Compiled by Henry Stevens. Edited, 
with notes, and references to printed works and manuscripts in other depos- 
itories. By William A. Whitehead. New York, 18fi8. 8vo., pp. xxix, (3), 
504. 

The appendices contain: A — List of Council minutes in the State Pa- 
per Office, London; B — Catalogue of Books, Pamphlets, and other Publica- 
tions referring in whole, or in \ art, to New Jersey during the Colonial Period, 
exclusive of the public documents of the State; C — Titles of the several edi- 
tions of the Laws of New Jersey, including Revisions, Compilations, and Di- 
gests; D— List of Newspapers in New Jersey prior to lfcOO, with the -date of 
their first publication; E— Notices of some of the Public Records, &c. 

Vol. VI. Records of the town of Newark, New Jersey, from its settle- 
ment in 1666, to its incorporation" as a city in 1836. Newark, 1864. 8vo., 
pp. x, 294. Folded plan. [Appendix: Officeholders, 1666-1713; Indian 
bill of sale to the Newarke men, July 11, 1667; Deed from the East Jersey 
Proprietors, Dec. 10, 1696; Town Patent or Charter, April 7, 1713.] 

Vol. VI. Supplement. Proceedings commemorative of the settlement 
of Newark, New Jersey, on its two hundredth anniversary, May 17, 1866. 
Newark, 1866. 8vo., pp. 182. Plan. 

Contents: Historical memoir of the circurnstauces leading to and con- 
nected with the settlement of Newark, May, 1666, by W. A. Whitehead; Lyr- 
ical poem, by Thomas Ward; Oration, by William B. Kinney; Genealogical 
notices of the first settlers of Newark, by S. H. Cougar; Notes; Appendix: 
Preliminary and attendant circumstances; Synopsis of letters received; Pro- 
ceedings of the city authorities. 

Vol. VII. The constitution and government of the province and State of 
New Jersey, with biographical sketches of the governors from 1776 to 1845, 
and reminiscences of the bench and bar, during more than half a century, 
by Lucius Q, C. Elmer, LL. D. Newark, 1872. 8vo., pp. (2), viii, 6, 495. 

IV. THE NEW JERSEY AF.CHIVES. 

[Half-title:] Archives of the State of New Jersey. First Series. [Full 
title:] Documents relating to the colonial history of the State of New Jer- 
sey. 

Contents. 

Vol. I. 1631-16S7. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1880. 
8vo., pp. xxiii, 556. 

Vol. II. 1687-1703. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1881. 
8vo., pp. xxi, 559. 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Ibl 

Vol. III. Administrations of Lords Cornbury and Lovelace, and of Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Ingoldsby, 1703-1709. Edited by William A. Whitehead. 
Newark, 1881. 8vo., pp. xiii, 512. 

Vol. IV. Administrations of Governor Robert Hunter and President 
Lewis Morris. 1709-1720. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1882. 
8vo., pp. xv, 461. 

Vol. V. Administrations of Governor Burnet, Governor Montgomerie, 
President Lewis Morris, Governor Cosby, President Anderson, and President 
Hamilton. 1720-1737. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1882. 
8vo., pp. xvi, 520. 

Vol. VI. Administrations of Governor Lewis Morris, President John 
EamiltOD and President John Beading. 1738-17-47. Edited by William A. 
Whitehead. Newark, 1882. fevo., pp. [v]-xvi, 482. 

Vol. VII. Part of administration of Governor Jonathan Belcher. 1746- 
1731. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1883. 8vo., pp. xvi. 663. 

Vol. VIII. Completing the administration of Governor Jonathan Bel- 
cher. 1751-1757. Edited by William A. Whitehead. Newark, 1885. 8vo., 
pp. (2), xix, (3), 299, (3), 285. 

Vol. IX. Administrations of President John Beading, Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Thomas Pownall, Governor Francis Bernard, Governor Thomas Boone, 
Governor Josiah Hardy, and part of the administration of Governor William 
Fra klin. 1757-1767. . Edited by Frederick W. Ricord and William Nelson. 
Newark, 18^5. 8vo., pp. (2), xxi, 656. [After title, inset of "Corrections 
and Additions.' 7 ] 

Vol. X. Administration of Governor William Franklin. 1767-1776. 
Edited by Frederick W. Ricord and William Nelson. Newark, 1880. 8vo, 
pp. (2), xx, 718. [After title, inset of "Corrections and Additions."] 

General Index to the Documents relating to the Colonial History of the 
State of New Jersey. First Series, in ten volumes. Published under and by 
virtue of An Act entitled "An Act for the better preservation of the early 
records of the State of New Jersey," passed March twenty-ninth, one thous- 
and eight hundred and seventy-two. 1 Prepared by Frederick W. Ricord. 
N.wark, 1888. 8vo., pp. (4), 198. 

Vol. XI. Some account of American newspapers, particularly of the 
eighteenth century, and libraries in which they may be found. I. Alabania- 
Marylaud. II. Extracts from American newspapers, relating to New Jersey. 
Vol. I 1704-1739. Edited by William N.lsou. Paterson, N. J., 1894. 8vo., 
pp, csxvi, (2), 023. 

Vol. XII. I. Some account of American newspapers, etc. Part II. Mass- 
i- II. Extracts from American newspapers, relating to New Jersey. 

i The title of the act cited is "Supplement to an act entitled 'An Act for the 
preservation of the Early Records of the State of New Jersey.'" It was 
approved (not passed) March 29, is;-.'. 
21 



1 62 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 

Vol. II. 1740-1750. Edited by William Nelson. Paterson, 1895. 8vo., pp. 
(12), cxxvii-cclxviii, (2), 729. Facsimile frontispiece. 

Vol. XIII. Journal of the governor and council. Edited by Frederick 
W. Bicord and William Nelson. Vol. I. 1682-1714. Trenton, 1890. 8vo., 
pp. xi, 580. Facsimile frontispiece. 

Vol. XIV. Journal of the governor and council. Vol. II. 1715-1738. 
Edited by Frederick W. Bicord and William Nelson. Trenton, 1890. 
8vo., pp. ix, 567. 

Vol. XV. Journal of the governor aud council. Vol. III. 1733-1748. 
Edited by Frederick W. Bicord and William Nelson. Trenton, 1891. 8vo., 
pp. vii, 656. Facsimile frontispiece. 

Vol. XVI. Journal of the governor and council. Vol. IV. 1748-1755 
Edited by Frederick W. Bicord. Trenton, 1891. 8vo., pp. (4), 596. 

Vol. XVII. Journal of the governor and council. Vol. V. 1756-1768. 
Edited by Frederick W. Bicord. Trenton, 1892. 8vo., pp. (4), 538. 

Vol. XVIII. Journal of the governor and council Vol. VI. 1769-1775. 
Edited by Frederick W. Bicord. Trenton, 1893. 8vo., pp. (4), 581. 

Vol. XIX. I. Some account of early American Newspapers, and Libraries 
in which they may be found. Part III. Michigan-New Hampshire. II. 
Extracts from American Newspapers, relating to New Jersey. Vol. III. 
1751-1755. Edited by William Nelson. Paterson, 1897. 8vo., pp. lxxviii, 
(2), 614. 

V. SEPABATE ADDEESSES. 

The goodly heritage of Jerseymen. The first annual address before the 
Society, January 15, 1846. By G. W. Doane. Burlington, 1846. 8vo, 
pp. 32. 

Same. Second edition. Burlington, 1848. 8vo, pp. 32. 

Biographical sketch of William Franklin. By William A. Whitehead. 
Bead before the Society, September 27, 1848. [Newark.] 1848. Svo, 
pp. 23. 

The robbery of the treasury of East Jersey in 1768, and contemporaneous 
events; A paper read before the Society, September 12, 185C. By Wil- 
liam A. Whitehead. [Newark, 1850.] 8vo, pp. 17. 

A historical sketch of the First Presbyterian church in the city of New 
Brunswick. Bead before the Historical Society of New Jersey, Septem- 
ber 8, 1852, by Bobert Davidson, D. D., pastor of said church. New 
Brunswick, N. J., 1852. 8vo, pp. 52. Portrait. 

Biographical sketch of Gen. William Winds, of Morris County, N. J., by 
Joseph F. Tuttle. Bead before the Society, May 19, 1853. 8vo, pp. 25. 

1 he history and location of Fort Nassau upon the Delaware. Paper read 
before the Society, January 20, 1853, by Edward Armstrong. Newark, 
1853. 8vo, pp. 21. 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 163 

The iron state — Its natural position, power, and wealth. Address before 
the Society at its ninth annual meeting, January 19, 1854. By Jacob W. 
Miller. Newark, 1854. 8vo, pp. 16. 
Journal of an expedition made in the autumn of 1794, with a detachment 
of New Jersey troops, into western Pennsylvania, to aid in suppressing 
the "whiskey rebellion." By Capt. David Ford. Communicated by 
Franklin S. (B.) Hough. [Newark, ,856.] 8vo, pp. 14. No title-page. 
Northern boundary line. The circumstances leading to the establishment, 
in 1769, of the northern boundary line between New Jersey and New 
York. Paper read before the Society May 19, 1859, by William A. 
Whitehead. [Newark, 1859.] 8vo, pp. 30. Map. 
A brief memoir of one of New Jersey's neglected sons, Samuel J. Smith, 
"a lost poet;" with some reminiscences of Burlington. By a sexagenar- 
ian. Read before the Society at Newark, May 17, 1860. By John Jay 
Smith. [Newark, I860.] 8vo. pp. 18. 
Address on the life and character of the Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, 
LL. D., by the Hon. Richard S. Field. Read before the Society Janu- 
ary 16, 1865. Newark, 1865. 8vo, pp. 23. 
The Eastern Boundary of New Jersey. A Review of a paper on the waters 
of New Jersey, read by the Hon. John Cochrane, attorney general of New 
York, before the Historical Society of that State, on the 6th of June, 
1865; by William A. Whitehead.^ Yonkers, 1865. 8vo, pp. (4), 43-74. . 
From the types of the Yonkers (N. Y.) Gazette, edited by Henry B. 
Dawson. 
The Eastern Boundary of New Jersey. A Review of the Hon. John 
Cochrane's paper on the waters of New Jersey, read before the Histor- 
ical Society of New York; and a rejoinder to the reply of "A member of 
the New York Historical Society:" by William A. Whitehead. Reprinted 
at the request of the N. J. Historical Society. Newark, 1866. 8vo, pp. 
70. Map. 

The foi-mer paper is here reprinted, with numerous alterations. 
The ••Rejoinder'" is added. The whole is from the Proctedings. X., 89- 
158. The papers of Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Dawson were 
all printed in the Yonkers Gazette, and afterwards in a sinyle volume, in 
Tlie Gazette Series, Vol. III., Yonkers. 18(56. 8vo. pp. 2!>3, forming a must 
valuable history of the Eastern Boundary of New Jersey. 

Proceedings commemorative of the settlement of Newark, N. J., on its two 
hundredth anniversary, May 17, 1866. Newark, 1S66. 8vo, pp. 182. 
Plate. 

(Also forms supplement to Vol. VI. of the Collections.) 

Philip Kearny: soldier and patriot. Address before the Society, January 
17, 1867, by Cortlandt Parker. Newark, 1868. 8vo, pp. 49. 

Address on the life and character of the Hon. James Parker, late presi- 
dent of the Society. By Richard S. Field. Read before the Society 
January 21, 1869. Newark, 1869. 8vo, pp. 32. 



164 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 

Review of some of the circumstances connected with settlement of Eliza- 
beth, N. J. By William A.. Whitehead. Read before the Society May 
20, 1869. Newark, 18G9. 8vo, pp. 24. 

The early history of Morris County, N. J. By the Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, 
D. D. Read before the Society May 20, 1869. Newark, 1869. 8vo, 
pp. 39. 

History of the constitution of New Jersey, adopted iu 1776, and of the 
government under it. By L. Q. C. Elmer. Read before the Society 
May 19, 1879. [Newark, 1870.] 8vo, pp. 20. 

Memoir of the Hon. Richard S. Field, late president of the Society. By 
Anthony Q. Keasbey. Read before the Society, January 19, 1871. [New- 
ark, 1871.] 8vo, pp. 23. 

Memoir of the life and character of John'Rutherfurd. Read before the 
Society January, 1872. By R. S. Swords. Newark, 1872. 8vo, pp. 8. 

Diary of Dr. Jabez Campfield, surgeon in ''Spencer's Regiment," while at- 
tached to Sullivan's expedition against the Iudianp, May 23-Oct. 2, 1779. 
From the origiual, presented to the Society by Edmund D. Halsey. 
[Newark, 1873.] 8vo, pp. 115-136 

An interesting memento of Major Andre. Read January, 1875, by 
William Nelson. Newark, 1875. 8vo, pp. 27-29. 

A memorial of the life and character of William L. Dayton. By Joseph 
P. Bradley. Prepared in conformity with a resolution of the Society. 
Newark, 1875. 8vo, pp. 50. 

Biographical Sketch of William Colfax, Captain of Washington's Body 
Guard. By William Nelson. Read before the Society, Jan. 10th, 1876. 
[Newark.] 8vo, pp. 145-152. 

Sketch of the life of Richard Stockton, by William A. Whitehead. Read 
before the Society January 18, 1877. [Newark, 1877.] 8vo, pp. 5. 
(No title page.) 

Life and public services of John Cleves Symmes. Read before the Soci- 
ety May 17, 1877, by C. H. Winfield. [Newark, 1877.] 8vo, pp. 24. 

The first century of Hunterdon Couuty, N. J. By the Rev. G. S. Mott, 
D. D. Read January 17, 1878. Flemingtou, N. J., 1878. 8vo, pp. 54. 

A Memorial of Col. John Bayard, by Gen. Jas. Grant Wilson. Read be- 
fore the Society at Newark, May 16, 1878. [Newark.] 8vo, pp. 139-160. 

Memoir of Professor Joseph Henry, LL.D. By Rev. James C Moffat. 
Read before the Society at Trenton, Jan. 23, 1879. [Newark, 1879.] 
8vo, pp. 191-203. 

The massacre near Olrl Tappan. By W. S. Stryker. Read before the So- 
ciety January 23, 1879. Trenton, 1882. 8vo, pp. 12. 

The old barracks at Trenton, N. J. Read before the Society January 20, 
1881. By William S. Stryker. Trenton, 1885. 8vo, pp. 14. 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. I 65 

[Circular of the Executive Committee, announcing the death of Adolphus 
Pennington Young, Recording Secretary of the Society, and giving a 
sketch cf his life and character. Newark, 1879.] 8vo, pp. 2. 

Memoir of Brig. Gen. Anthony Walton White, of the Continental Army. 
Compiled by Anna M. W. Woodhnll, of Freehold, N. J. Presented to 
the Society May 18, 1882. . 8vo, pp. 11. Portrait. 

[Circular, ccnimunicating resolution adopted by the Society, January 22, 
1883, favoring the erection of monuments to commemorate the battles of 
the Revolution. Newark, 1883.] 8vo, p. 1. 

Capture of the Block House at Toms River, N. J., March 24, 1782. Read 
at the Memorial service at Toms River May 30, 1883. By William S. 
Stryker. Trenton, 1883. 8vo, pp. 32. 

Josiah Hornblower, and the first steam-engine in America, with some no- 
tices of the Schuyler copper mines at Second River, N. J., and a gene- 
alogy of the Hornblower family. By William Nelson. Read before the 
Society May 17, 1883. Newark, 1883. 8vo, pp. (2), 80. 

General Maxwell's brigade of the New Jersey continental line in the expe- 
dition against the Indians in 1779. By William S. Stryker. Read be- 
fore the Society January 17, 1884. Trenton, 1885. 8vo, pp. 60. 

Memorial of Samuel Allinson, ' 'The Philanthropist of New Jersey. " By 
John F. Hageman. Read before the Society at Newark, May 14, 1884. 
[Newark, 1884.] 8vo, pp. 21. 

The strategic relations of New Jersey to the war for American independ- 
ence. By Henry B. Carringtou, LL.D. Read before the Society Janu- 
ary 15, 1885. Newark, N. J. 1885. 8vo, pp. (2), 29. 

Sketch of the life and character of William A. Whitehead, by Samuel 
Irenseus Prime. Read before the Society May 21, 1885. [Newark, 1885.] 
8vo, pp. 22. Portrait. 

Some notices of Governor Joseph Bloomfield. Read January 26, 1886, by 
William Nelson. Newark, 1886. 8vo, pp. 3. 

Life, Character and Services of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, LL. D., of New 
Jersey, late Secretary of State in President Arthur's cabinet. By John 
F. Hageman. Read before the Society at Newark, May 20, 1886. New- 
ark, 18i6. 8vo, pp. 31. Portrait. 

Jonathan Pitney, M. D. Fifty years of progress on the coast of New Jer- 
sey. By Rev. Allen H. Brown. Read before the Society at Newark, 
May 20, 1886. Newark, 1886. 8vo, pp. 14. 

A historical sketch of Miss Jane McCrea. By Henry Race, M. D. Read 
before the Society at Newark May 20, 1886. [Newark, N. J., 1886.] 
8vo, pp. 14. 

The founding of Patersou as the intended manufacturing metropolis of the 
United States. By William Nelson. A paper read before the Society 
May 19, 1887. Newark, 1887. 8vo, pp. 17. 



I 66 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE 

The Hessians in New Jersey; just a little in their favor. By A. D. Mellick, 

Jr. Read before the Society at Trenton, January 24, 1888. [Newark, 

1888. J 8vo, pp. 22. 
Joel Parker: ''The War Governor of New Jersey." A biographical sketch. 

By James S. Yard. [Read before the Society at Newark, May 17, 1888.] 

Freehold, 1889. 8vo, pp. 39. Portrait. 
Printed for private circulation. 
Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, the historian. By Mrs. Frederick H. Pierson. 

Read before the Society at Princeton, September 28, 1888. [New York, 

1888.] Sm. 4to, pp. 4. 
Rev. Samuel McClintock Hatnill, D. D. Memoir prepared and read by 

the Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, D. D , before the Society, at Trenton, 

January 28, 1890. [Newark, 1890.] 8vo, pp. 12. Portrait. 

Memoir of George H. Cook, State Geologist of New Jersey, director of the 
agricultural experiment station of New Jersey, professor of geology and 
agriculture in Rutgers College. By James Neilson. Newark, 1890. 
8vo, pp. 15. Portrait. 

Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J. Addresses commemorative of 
George Hammell Cook, professor of geology and agriculture; delivered 
before the trustees, faculty, alumni, students, and friends of the college, 
June 17, 1890. With a biographical sketch read before the New Jersey 
Historical Society at Trenton, January 28, 1890. Newark, N. J., 1891. 
8vo, -pp. 53. Portrait. 

John T. Nixon. Memoir prepared and read by A. Q. Keasbey, before the 
Society at Trenton, January 28, 1890. [Newark, 1890.] 8vo, pp. 13. 

Mahlon Dickerson, industrial pioneer and old-time patriot. By Josiah C. 
Pumpelly. Read before the Society, at Trenton, January 27, 1891. 
Paterson. 8vo, pp. 26. 

Contributions to Hunterdon County History. By Henry Race, M. D. 
[Read before the Society, January 27, 1891.] Newark, 1892. 8vo, pp. 7. 

A Memoir of Joseph Parrish, M. D., of Burlington, N. J. By Samuel H. 
Pennington, M. D. Read before the Society at Newark, May 21, 1891. 
Newark, 1891. 8vo, pp. 23. 

Greenland in New Jersey. A Historical Sketch of the Moravian Settle- 
ment in Sussex County, 1768 to 1808. By Henry Race, M. D. Read 
before the Society at Newark, May 21, 1891. [Newark, 1891.] 8vo, 
pp. 11. 

The early days of the Academy at Newark. Extracts from old newspa- 
pers, gleaned by William Nelson. Newark, 1893. 8vo, pp. 8. 

George Eyre, his ancestors and his descendents. By Franklin Eyre. Pat- 
erson, 1893. 8vo, pp. 4. [Reprinted from N. J. Archives, Vol. XL, 
pp. 495-6, note.J 



NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. l6j 

Autobiography of Col. Aaron Ogden, of Elizabethtowu. An original docu- 
ment written for bis cbildren. Paterson, 1893. 8vo, pp. 19. [Some 
unpublished letters of Col. Ogden, 1785-1830, with biographical notes, 
etc., pp. 19-33.] 

Only 100 copies of the autobiography reprinted from the Proceedings, 
with the unpublished Lei ters, el c, add/ed. 

American newspaper files, 1704-1800, and where they may be found. Pre- 
liminary list, for additions and corrections. By William Nelson. Pat- 
erson, 1893. 8vo, pp. 6. 

Sketches of the New Jersey Historical Society, by Alonzo Church. Pub- 
lished by the Society. Newark, 1894. 8vo, pp. 40. 

Some account of the library, portraits and curios. 

The Indians of New Jersey: their origin and development; manners and 
customs; language, religion and government. With some notices of 
Indian place names By William Nelson. Paterson, 1894. 8vo, pp. 
(2), 168. 

Joseph Coerten Hornblower, 1777-18G4. Chief justice of New Jersey, 
1832-1846. A biographical sketch. By William .Nelson. Cambridge, 
Mass., 1894. 8vo, pp. 29. Portrait. 

Some records of the French in Elizabethtown. By Mrs. Emeline G. Pier- 
son. Bead before the Society at Trenton, January 22, 1895. Paterson, 
1897. 8vo, pp. 10. 

Members of the New Jersey Assembly, 1754. Biographical sketches. 
[Reprinted, with additions and corrections, from N. J. Archives, Vol. 
XIX.] Paterson, 1895. 8vo, pp. 24. 

An Ethnologist's View of History. An address before the Society at Tren- 
ton, January 28, 1896. By Daniel G. Brinton, A. M.. M. D., LL. D., 
D. Sc. Philadelphia. 1S96. 8vo, pp. 24. 

Clifford Stanley Sims: soldier, statesman, jurist. A biographical sketch. 
By William Nelson, A. M. (Princeton.) Boston, 1816. 8vo, pp. 10. 
Portrait. 
William Maxwell, of New Jersey. Brigadier General in the Revolution. 
By J. H. Griffith, M. D. Bead before the Society at Newark May 17. 
1894, Paterson, 1897. 8vo, pp. 15. 
t Original documents relating to the life and administrations of William Bur- 
nt t, Governor of New York and New Jersey, 1720-1728, and of Massa- 
chusetts and New Hampshire, 1728-1729. Compiled by William Nelson. 
Paterson, 1897. 8vo, pp. (6), 217. 




AUSTIN SCOTT, Ph. D., LL. D. 



A 



Jll 



OF THE NATION 



An Address delivered at the Semi-Centennial of the Founding of the New 

Jersey Historical Society, at Newark, N. J., May 16. 1895, 

on the occasion of the 

Presentation to Benjamin Harrison, Ex-President of the United States, of 
the New Jersey Historical Society's Gold Medal commemorative of 
the Centennial of the Establishment of the Federal Gov- 
ernment, and of the Inauguration, April 30. 17S9, of 
George Washington as the First President 
of the United States. 



By AUSTIN SCOTT, Ph. D., LL. D., 

President of Rutgers College. 



with tup: 



RESPONSE OF GENERAL HARR1 



22 



A Highway of the Nation 

- — • — 

Honoured Sir: — 

Just two centuries ago the General Assembly of East 
Jersey laid a tax to maintain "the New Road" from the 
Raritan to the Delaware, because it was, in the language of 
the law, "a part of the great thoroughfare of this province, 
from New England and New York to the Westward." 

It is still a part of the great highway between the polit- 
ical and the commercial capital of our country. 

The medal in my hand, which, at the bidding of this 
Society I am to give to you, commemorates the fact that 
once a great man passed this way; and that one hundred 
years later, and within the memory of our youngest chil- 
dren, New Jersey served you as a path when you went to 
pay your tribute to Washington, and that you marked out 
your journey by tracing his footsteps. 

A million and a half of Jerseymen rejoice that their 
State has done this service; has for generations welcomed 
and sped the coming and the going; that its soil was used 
as the "war path of the Revolution," as well as a constant 
path of peace. 

But, sir, New Jersey is more than a way, often trodden 
of men, and well-worn by events. Those who. know it best, 
and those who pass and repass with clear eyes and open 
mind, know that it has served as a gathering-place of many 
of the forces which have made our Union. Those who 
have studied or who have divined its character, recognize 
in New Jersey, as in no other State, a representative of the 
whole. We will not claim that it is a type of the best 
alone ; it is, if you will, the average State. Were all the 



i 7 : 



A HIGHWAY OF THE NATION. 



other States blotted out, New Jersey could reproduce from 
its annals and from its composite factors, the essential ele- 
ments which would restore the Union. A few illustrations 
will make good the claim. 

In the war for independence, New Jersey was not mere- 
ly the "War Path of the Revolution." At Trenton the 
long lane of retreat turned, and there the enemy first 
learned " that Americans were to be feared when they 
took the aggressive." On that anvil the sword was welded 
for the final victory. The varied hopes of the several 
States became henceforward the resolute expectations of the 
one people of "the wide extended continent." "That 
unhappy affair at Trenton !" said Lord George Germain in 
the British Parliament some years after it was fought; 
"All our hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at 
Trenton." 

Next to that first victory in war, let us record a match- 
less victory of peace. In 1780, the Supreme Court of New 
Jersey, after patient hearing of argument and careful delib- 
eration, announced the doctrine that an act of the Legisla- 
ture when weighed in the balance of the constitution and 
found wanting is no law. This judgment, rendered in a 
country village in the middle of New Jersey, was the first 
in the series of decisions which introduced into the Amer- 
ican system of government a principle of prime importance, 
hitherto, and elsewhere now, unknown. 

In 1786, in the jealous days of the old confederation, a 
call was made for a meeting at Annapolis to reform the 
conflicting regulations of commerce. New Jersey pro- 
posed "an improvement on the original plan" and entreat- 
ed the convention "to consider how far a uniform system 
in commerce and other important matters may be necessa- 
ry to the common interest and permanent harmony of the 
several States." For six months, from March to Septem- 
ber, from seed-time to harvest, New-Jersey's rallying-cry, 



A HIGHWAY OF THE NATION 1 73 

"Other important matters," was heard by the people of the 
United States. Its very vagueness gave it meaning; it 
opened up an endless vista of nationalism. Hamilton, the 
herald and champion of the more perfect union, made it 
the watchword of the call for the federal convention at 
Philadelphia. 

To that convention the delegates wended their way in 
May, 1 787, and on the 25th, eleven days after the appoint- 
ed Monday, the representation of the seventh State, mak- 
ing a majority and a quorum of the convention, was com- 
plete. That State was New Jersey ; it was one of her dele- 
gates whose entrance into the convention hall gave move- 
ment to an enginery which wrought for all time. The 
form of parts of the constitution was repeatedly decided 
in those days of delicate adjustments by a single circum- 
stance. We do not know what a day more or less would 
have brought forth. We do know that the work begun 
that day by virtue of the presence of a Jerseyman brought 
forth good. 

The task of the men of that convention was to reconcile 
two hostile forces, which were as old as government by 
man. Their duty was to give simultaneous and due ex- 
pression to central unified power, and to the separate ener- 
gies of distributive self-rule. James Madison sketched the 
national plan. William Paterson claimed and secured 
through the temporary Jersey plan the permanent and 
equal recognition of the States ; and Oliver Ellsworth 
cleared the way for the blended plan in which the highest 
life of each of these forces is conditioned upon the welfare 
of the other. James Madison and William Paterson and 
Oliver Ellsworth received their first lessons in statecraft at 
the knee of dear Mother Princeton. 

You, sir, are familiar with that national system of merid- 
ian surveys introduced by Jefferson to promote the devel- 
opment of the West, and to fix the boundaries of the prai- 



I 74 A HIGHWAY OF THE NATJON. 

rie farm by the everlasting stars. The wise suggestion of 
this plan in 1784 came, we have reason to believe, from 
Simeon De Witt, who was graduated in 1776 from the New 
Jersey College, then known as Queen's, now Rutgers, 
which I have the honor to serve. 

On the 19th of April, 17S4, Jefferson proposed to ex- 
clude slavery from all the West, South as well as North. 
The effect would have been to confine slavery to the south- 
east corner of the country. The measure was lost for lack 
of a single vote. Had that New Jersey delegate been pres- 
ent, whose illness kept him at home that day, the history of 
this country might have been wholly changed. 

In the earliest days of provincial life the people of West 
Jersey contended for freedom of commerce within national 
boundaries. After the Declaration of Independence, New 
Jersey, and New Jersey alone, from the first and constant- 
ly, demanded for the central government a grant from the 
States of power over commerce. It was fitting therefore 
that New Jersey should supply the materials in the case of 
Gibbons vs. Ogden in 1824, when Webster plead and Mar- 
shall held, that commerce between New Jersey and New 
York, and among the several States of all the Union, should 
pass untroubled. 

In 1S60, memorable year! the Representatives in Con- 
gress after a struggle of eight weeks, by a bare majority, 
chose William Pennington, of New Jersey, a near relative 
of the venerable President of this Society, to be the Speaker. 
Thus, again, by our State, the even scales of the national 
fate were tipped. 

In 1877, the strange forces which shaped the Electoral 
Commission fixed upon a man of New Jersey the cruel re- 
sponsibility for the final decision. Bradley did not flinch. 
He took it and gave judgment. The angry flames fell 
back and the fires were left to smoulder as the people drew 



A HIGHWAY OK THE NATION. 



'75 



deep breaths of relief and hope and followed the appoint- 
ed way. 

New Jersey was, moreover, the only state that was con- 
tinuously represented in the Electoral Commission in more 
than one of its three branches. Frelinghuysen, the mem- 
ber from the Senate, and Bradley from the Bench, were 
citizens of "Our Town on the Passayak." 

These instances, chosen somewhat at random, may suf- 
fice to show that the occasions have not been few when 
New Jersey has determined the issue for the whole coun- 
try, has swung the gate to this entrance or to that. 
Whether the path has in every case been well chosen is 
not here the question. 

This fact, that New Jersey has so swayed events, and 
contains within her borders so much that is representative 
of the whole, is due in large part to the place and charac- 
ter which nature has assigned to the State. Into this mid 
way State, bounded by the ocean and great rivers, the 
immigrants of varied origin found easy access. They came 
from Holland and New England, from England and Scotland, 
in such proportions and at such a time, that each contin- 
gent made its due impress upon the resultant character of 
every day life. Holy living they cultivated in different 
forms, Presbyterian, Independent, Episcopal, Reformed, or 
after the sedate manner of the Friends. Men of many 
minds then found and still find a counterpart in nature's 
variety, remarkable for so small an area. Retaining its in- 
dividuality New Jersey is yet plastic under the influences 
of its neighbor States, and shows the results in habits, in 
laws and institutions. The population of New Jersey, 
diverse in origin and in occupation, shows an increase from 
decade to decade steadily near in ratio to that of the whole 
of the United States. 

Enough ! These proofs of what the State is, of what it 
has done, of what it represents, are cited to-day to assure 



176 A HIGHWAY OF THE NATION. 

you, who are in lineage, in character, in experience, by the 
careful discharge of highest responsibility, a representa- 
tive citizen, and therefore through you, the people of the 
Union, that New Jersey will not shirk her share, passive or 
active, of the common duty. 

We feel that New Jersey is more than a mere pathway. 
Many and opposing forces meet and struggle here. The 
powers of good and of evil are as evenly matched here as 
anywhere, and we know that the issue of no one battle will 
secure a permanent victory. But the courage and faith of 
the people of New Jersey do not sink with the setting of 
one day's sun. 

Along the pathway of the past of our State and of our 
nation a clear light shines. But whither we are to go we 
do not yet know. Providence alone discerns the path of 
our country's future. No fowl knoweth it, the vulture's eye 
hath not seen it. But as the Founder of Christianity pro- 
claimed Himself the Way, the Truth, the Life, so in obedi- 
ence to the higher law of that righteousness, which exalt- 
eth a nation, let us hope that our land may long serve as a 
highway for humanity; may truth and life be also in her 
and abide ! 

Receive, sir, this medal as evidence of the satisfaction of 
this Society of New Jersey that you as its guest, the hon- 
ored Chief Magistrate of the nation, journeyed along this 
thoroughfare to pay tribute to the memory of the founder 
of the Republic. We pray you cherish the token, for your 
children and your children's children. To you, as you 
look upon it, to them, to us, to all who work and wait for 
the good of our land, the words of the ancient prophet will 
appeal: "Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the way and 
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and 
walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." 




Eng-^ by H E 




E APPLE ' 



Response of General Harrison 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Historical 

Society of New Jersey: 

I wish I could have come to participate 
with you in these interesting exercises under circumstances 
more auspicious. The whirl and haste of a thousand miles 
by rail has left my head a little unsteady. (Laughter.) 
It is travel only, nothing else! (Laughter.) 

I congratulate you, Mr. President and the members of 
this Society, upon the excellent work which has been ac- 
complished, and to a hasty summary of which I have been 
permitted by you to listen this afternoon. If I could say 
any word to-day that would stimulate the interest, not only 
of those who here meet, but of all the citizens of New Jer- 
sey, in the work of this Society, I should love to speak 
that word. 

American life from the beginning, from the time we first 
met the savage, and the sharp struggle for existence which 
these bleak shores and those inhospitable neighbors forced 
upon us, has been so much characterized by push, the 
American eye has been so intently directed to the front, 
that it is almost impossible to hold any body of our peo- 
ple and get them to take a retrospect. 

Now what a great thing it would have been for the 

world if the mound-builders and pre-historic races of this 

country had only had a Historical Society. (Laughter.) 

We should have known then whether they were one of the 

lost tribes before they were lost again. (Laughter.) 
23 



178 GENERAL HARRISON'S RESPONSE. 

We know they are lost now. (Laughter.) But jocular- 
ity aside, it is a most important and useful work in which 
this Society is engaged. It furnishes to your children the 
material upon which their patriotism may feed, and while 
I set the love of the Union above the love of the State, 
yet I do believe that a pride in one's own State and neigh- 
borhood is a wholesome influence, always for good. (Ap- 
plause.) 

As I hear in different parts of the country these elo- 
quent tributes to the different States, I am sometimes led 
to wish, for the moment, that I had been born there. 
(Laughter and applause.) What the eloquent and schol- 
arly President of one of your educational institutions has 
said this afternoon made me think it might be well to have 
been born in New Jersey, and yet that feeling of alienage, 
which his eloquent description of what Jersey had done, 
left upon me, a native of Ohio, is somewhat appeased 
when I remember this afternoon that I have Jersey blood 
in my veins. 

Within the last two years it has fallen in my way to re- 
new and to extend earlier studies in connection with the 
formation of the Constitution of the United States. 

I had in mind the honorable and advanced position 
taken by New Jersey before and in the Constitutional Con- 
vention, to which allusion has been made. 

I have no doubt that it had in part its origin in the 
broad statesmanship and thought of some of your leading 
men, but there can be no doubt that the adherence of New 
Jersey to the doctrine of a National control of all impost 
duties was greatly stimulated by the fact that New York, 
across the bay from you, had laid onerous duties upon the 
products of the Jersey farms (laughter) as well as upon the 
cord wood that came down the Sound from Connecticut. 
(Laughter). 



general Harrison's response. 



179 



So it is, however, that our thoughts are often turned in 
the right direction, in a direction that is not selfish but 
broad, by some individual experience. 

I almost tremble as I re-read the story of the forma- 
tion of our National Union. Fortunately, God gave us in 
those times many men of broad intellect, many men who 
were capable of rising above the mean and selfish inter- 
ests of locality, to take in with the sweep of their thoughts 
the great horizon of a National life. 

And yet we are amazed to find how long and how self- 
ishly some States that had peculiar commercial advantages 
struggled against the essential and necessary thing: the 
concession to the National Government of the sole power 
to deal with foreign commerce and with commerce among 
the States. 

It is a proud fact in the history of New Jersey that in 
this crisis, a crisis of peace, and yet as imminent and 
tremendous a crisis as ever was found in battle, New Jer- 
sey influentially and persistently threw her influence on the 
side of ceding this necessary power to the general Govern- 
ment. (Applause.) 

One would have thought that men did not need to be 
much above the state of imbecility to see that thirteen tar- 
iffs were impossible (laughter), and yet, as I have said, it 
took a strenuous and protracted fight to secure this con- 
cession to the National Government. 

I recall, gentlemen, with pleasure, that great trip 
through your State in 1889, when with every demonstra- 
tion of honor to the flag and of honor to those who for 
the time being held public office, the citizens of New Jer- 
sey and of New York worthily commemorated the estab- 
lishment of the National Union and the inauguration of the 
civil government under the Constitution. 

It will be to me a great pleasure to add this medal, 
which your Society has so generously voted and which this 



1S0 general Harrison's response. 

Society's representative has so graciously presented, to 
other souvenirs of a great occasion. (Applause.) 

And now, my countrymen, one word. This Society, as 
I have said, is organized for retrospect, but a retrospect 
that is full of instruction and that takes hold of the future. 

If these incidents of early life in New Jersey were 
merely reminiscences — if you did not find in the example 
of these pioneers and in the example of these heroes in 
war and in these leaders in civic thought, inspiration for 
the future, your Society would have a less worthy subject 
o/ study and pursuit. 

But, my countrymen, in all these things there is in- 
spiration, as we learn how selfishness fought against the 
common good, and as we see in the history that has been 
written since, how the surrender of these petty things 
worked together for the glory and the prosperity of 
all, we are taught a lesson that should influence us as citi- 
zens in dealing with the great questions that are before us 
now for settlement. (Great applause.) 

We shall not lose hope of the right solution of every 
public question ; we shall not lose hope that the glory of 
the flag shall be augmented as the years go on. (Ap- 
plause.) 

We shall not lose hope that the granite foundation 
upon which our Government has been established shall en- 
dure so long as there is found in the hearts of our fellow 
citizens veneration for those who framed this Government 
and love for those who died that it might be established. 
(Loud and continued applause.) 

And now, gentlemen of the Society, I beg you to ex- 
cuse further speech, to pardon the inadequacy of what has 
been said, and to allow me in conclusion profoundly to 
thank you, not only for this medal, but for the gracious re- 
ception which you have given to me to-day. (Loud and 
prolonged cheering.) 




Prof. WOODROW WILSON, Ph. D., LL.D. 



rp 



e Course of American History 



An Address delivered at the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the New 

Jersey Historical Society, Newark, N. J., 

May 16th, 1895. 



By W00DR0W WILSON, Ph. D„ LL D. 



Professor of Jurisprudence in Princeton University. 



The Course of American History. 



In the field of history learning should be deemed to 
stand among the people and in the midst of life. Its func- 
tion there is not one of pride merely : to make complaisant 
record of deeds honorably done and plans nobly exe- 
cuted in the past. It has also a function of guidance : to 
build high places whereon to plant the clear and flaming 
lights of experience, that they may shine alike upon the 
roads already traveled and upon the paths not yet attempt- 
ed. The historian is also a sort of prophet. Our memo- 
ries direct us. They give us knowledge of our character, 
alike in its strength and in its weakness: and it is so we 
get our standards for endeavour, — our warnings and our 
gleams of hope. It is thus we learn what manner of nation 
we are of, and divine what manner of people we should be. 

And this is not in national records merely. Local his- 
tory is the ultimate substance of national history. There 
could be no epics were pastorals not also true, — no patriot- 
ism, were there no homes, no neighbours, no quiet round 
of civic duty; and I, for my part, do not wonder that 
scholarly men have been found not a few who, though they 
might have shone upon a larger field, where all eyes would 
have seen them win their fame, yet chose to pore all their 
lives long upon the blurred and scattered records of a 
country-side, where there was nothing but an old church 
or an ancient village. The history of a nation is only the 
history of its villages written large. I only marvel that 
these local historians have not seen more in the stories 
they have sought to tell. Surely here, in these old ham- 
lets that ante-date the cities, in these little communities 



184 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

that stand apart and yet give their young life to the nation, 
is to be found the very authentic stuff of romance for the 
mere looking. There is love and courtship and eager life 
and high devotion up and down all the lines of every gene- 
alogy. What strength, too, and bold endeavour in the cut- 
ting down of forests to make the clearings; what breath of 
hope and discovery in scaling for the first time the nearest 
mountains; what longings ended or begun upon the com- 
ing in of ships into the harbour; what pride of earth in 
the rivalries of the village ; what thoughts of heaven in 
the quiet of the rural church ! What forces of slow and 
steadfast endeavour there were in the building of a great 
city upon the foundations of a hamlet: and how the plot 
broadens and thickens and grows dramatic as communities 
widen into States ! Here, surely, sunk deep in the very 
fibre of the stuff, are the colours of the great story of men, 
— the lively touches of reality and the striking images of 
life. 

It must be admitted, I know, that local history can be 
made deadly dull in the telling. The men who reconstruct 
it seem usually to build with kiln-dried stuff, — as if with a 
purpose it should last ! But that is not the fault of the 
subject. National history may be written almost as ill, if 
due pains be taken to dry it out. It is a trifle more diffi- 
cult: because merely to speak of national affairs is to give 
hint of great forces and of movements blown upon by all 
the airs of the wide continent. The mere largeness of the 
scale lends to the narrative a certain dignity and spirit. 
But some men will manage to be dull though they should 
speak of creation. In the writing of local history the thing 
is fatally easy. For there is some neighbourhood history 
that lacks any large significance, which is without horizon 
or outlook. There are details in the history of every com- 
munity which it concerns no man to know again when once 
they are past and decently buried in the records ; and 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. I 85 

these are the very details, no doubt, which it is easiest to 
find upon a casual search. It is easier to make out a list 
of county clerks than to extract the social history of the 
county from the records they have kept,— though it is not 
so important: and it is easier to make a catalogue of any- 
thing than to say what of life and purpose the catalogue 
stands for. This is called collecting facts " for the sake of 
facts themselves;" but if I wished to do aught for the sake 
of the facts themselves I think I should serve them better 
by giving their true biographies than by merely displaying 
their faces. 

The right and vital sort of local history is the sort which 
may be written with lifted eyes, — the sort which has an 
horizon and an outlook upon the world. Sometimes it 
may happen, indeed, that the annals of a neighbourhood 
djsclose some singular adventure which had its beginning 
and its ending there: some unwonted bit of fortune which 
stands unique and lonely amidst the myriad transactions of 
the wide world of affairs, and deserves to be told singly 
and for its own sake. But usually the significance of local 
history is, that it is part of a greater whole. A spot of 
local history is like an inn upon a highway: it is a stage 
upon a far journey : it is a place the national history has 
passed through. There mankind has stopped and lodged 
by the way. Local history is thus less than national his- 
tory only as the part is less than the whole. The whole 
could not dispense with the part, would not exist without 
it, could not be understood unless the part were also under- 
stood. Local history is subordinate to national only in the 
sense in which each leaf of a book is subordinate to the vol- 
ume itself. Upon no single page will the whole theme of the 
book be found ; but each page holds a part of the theme. 
Even were the history of each locality exactly like the 
history of every other (which it cannot be), it would de- 
serve to be written, — if only to corroborate the history of 

•24 



1 86 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

the rest, and verify it as an authentic part of the record of 
the race and nation. The common elements of a nation's 
life are the great elements of its life, the warp and woof of 
the fabric. They cannot be too much or too substantially 
verified and explicated. It is so that our history is made 
solid and fit for use and wear. 

Our national history has, of course, its own great and 
spreading pattern, which can be seen in its full form and 
completeness only when the stuff of our national life is laid 
before us in broad surfaces and upon an ample scale. But 
the detail of the pattern, the individual threads of the 
great fabric, are to be found only in local history. There 
is all the intricate weaving, all the delicate shading, all the 
nice refinement of the pattern, — gold thread mixed with 
fustian, fine thread laid upon coarse, shade combined 
with shade. Assuredly it is this that gives to local history 
its life and importance. The idea, moreover, furnishes a 
nice criterion of interest. The life of some localities is, 
obviously, more completely and intimately a part of the 
national pattern than the life of other localities, which are 
more separate and, as it were, put upon the border of the 
fabric. To come at once and very candidly to examples, 
the local history of the Middle States, — New York, New 
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, — is much more structurally a 
part of the characteristic life of the nation as a whole than 
is the history of New England communities or of the sev- 
eral States and regions of the South. I know that such a 
heresy will sound very rank in the ears of some : for I am 
speaking against accepted doctrine. But acceptance, be it 
never so general, does not make a doctrine true. 

Our national history has been written for the most part 
by New England men, — all honor to them ! Their schol- 
arship and their characters alike have given them an hon- 
orable enrolment amongst the great names of our literary 
history; and no just man would say aught to detract, were 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 187 

it never so little, from their well-earned fame. They have 
written our history, nevertheless, from but a single point of 
view. From where they sit, the whole of the great devel- 
opment looks like an Expansion of New England. Other 
elements but play along the sides of the great process by 
which the Puritan has worked out the development of na- 
tion and polity. It is he who has gone out and possessed 
the land ; the man of destiny, the type and impersonation 
of a chosen people. To the Southern writer, too, the 
story looks much the same, if it be but followed to its cul- 
mination, — to its final storm and stress and tragedy in the 
great war. It is the history of the Suppression of the 
South. Spite of all her splendid contributions to the 
steadfast accomplishment of the great task of building the 
nation ; spite of the long leadership of her statesmen in 
the national counsels; spite of her joint achievements in 
the conquest and occupation of the West, the South was 
at last turned upon on every hand, rebuked, proscribed, 
defeated. The history of the United States, we have 
learned, was, from the settlement at Jamestown to the sur- 
render at Appomattox, a long-drawn contest for mastery 
between New England and the South, — and the end of the 
contest we know. All along the parallels of latitude ran 
the rivalry, in those heroical days of toil and adventure 
during which population crossed the continent, like an 
army advancing its encampments. Up and down the great 
river of the continent, too, and beyond, up the slow incline 
of the vast steppes that lift themselves toward the crown- 
ing towers of the Rockies, — beyond that, again, in the gold- 
fields and upon the green plains of California, the race for 
ascendency struggled on, — till at length there was a final 
coming face to face, and the masterful folk who had come 
from the loins of New England won their consummate vic- 
tory. 



iSS THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

It is a very dramatic form for the story. One almost 
wishes it were true. How fine a unity it would give our 
epic ! But perhaps, after all, the real truth is more inter- 
esting. The life of the nation cannot be reduced to these 
so simple terms. These two great forces, of the North 
and of the South, unquestionably existed, — were unques- 
tionably projected in their operation out upon the great 
plane of the continent, there to combine or repel, as cir- 
cumstances might determine. But the people that went 
out from the North were not an unmixed people; they 
came from the great Middle States as well as from New 
England. Their transplantation into the West was no 
more a reproduction of New England or New York or 
Pennsylvania or New Jersey than Massachusetts was a re- 
production of old England, or New Netherland a repro- 
duction of Holland. The Southern people, too, whom 
they met by the Western rivers and upon the open prairies, 
were transformed, as they themselves were, by the rough 
fortunes of the frontier. A mixture of peoples, a modifi- 
cation of mind and habit, a new round of experiment and 
adjustment amidst the novel life of the baked and untilled 
plain, and the far valleys with the virgin forests still 
thick upon them: a new temper, a new spirit of adven- 
ture, a new impatience of restraint, a new license of life, — 
these are the characteristic notes and measures of the time 
when the nation spread itself at large upon the continent, 
and was transformed from a group of colonies into a fam- 
ily of States. 

The passes of these eastern mountains were the arteries 
of the nation's life. The real breath of our growth and 
manhood came into our nostrils when first, like Governor 
Spotswood and that gallant company of Virginian gentle- 
men that rode with him in the far year 1716, the Knights 
of the Order of the Golden Horseshoe, our pioneers stood 
upon the ridges of the eastern hills and looked down upon 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 189 

those reaches of the continent where lay the untrodden 
paths of the westward migration. There, upon the courses 
of the distant rivers that gleamed before them in the sun, 
down the farther slopes of the hills beyond, out upon the 
broad fields that lay upon the fertile banks of the " Father 
of Waters," up the long tilt of the continent to the vast 
hills that looked out upon the Pacific — there were the 
regions in which, joining with people from every race and 
clime under the sun, they were to make the great com- 
pounded nation whose liberty and mighty works of peace 
were to cause all the world to stand at gaze. Thither were 
to come Frenchmen, Scandinavians, Celts, Dutch, Slavs, — 
men of the Latin races and of the races of the Orient, as 
well as men, a great host, of the first stock of the settle- 
ments: English, Scots, Scots-Irish, — like New England 
men, but touched with the salt of humor, hard, and yet 
neighborly too. For this great process of growth by 
grafting, of modification no less than of expansion, — the 
colonies, — the original thirteen States, — were only prelim- 
inary studies and first experiments. But the experiments 
that most resembled the great methods by which we peo- 
pled the continent from side to side and knit a single pol- 
ity across all its length and breadth, were surely the ex- 
periments made from the very first in the Middle States of 
our Atlantic seaboard. 

Here, from the first, were mixture of population, variety 
of element, combination of type, as if of the nation itself 
in small. Here was never a simple body, a people of but 
a single blood and extraction, a polity and a practice 
brought straight from one motherland. The life of these 
States was from the beginning like the life of the country: 
they have always shown the national pattern. In New 
England and the South it was very different. There some 
of the great elements of the national life were long in 
preparation : but separately and with an individual distinc- 



I9O THE COURSE OP AMERICAN HISTORY. 

tion : without mixture, — for long almost without move- 
ment. That the elements thus separately prepared were 
of the greatest importance, and run everywhere like the 
chief threads of the pattern through all our subsequent 
life, who can doubt? They give color and tone to every 
part of the figure. The very fact that they are so distinct 
and separately evident throughout, the very emphasis of 
individuality they carry with them, but proves their dis- 
tinct origin. The other elements of our life, various 
though they be, and of the very fibre, giving toughness 
and consistency to the fabric, are merged in its texture, 
united, confused, almost indistinguishable, so thoroughly 
are they mixed, intertwined, interwoven, like the essential 
strands of the stuff itself: but these of the Puritan and 
the Southerner, though they run everywhere with the rest 
and seem upon a superficial view themselves the body of 
the cloth, in fact modify rather than make it. 

What, in fact, has been the course of American history? 
How is it to be distinguished from European history? 
What features has it of its own, which give it its distinctive 
plan and movement? We have suffered, it is to be feared, 
a very serious limitation of view until recent years by hav- 
ing all our history written in the East. It has smacked 
strongly of a local flavor. It has concerned itself too ex- 
clusively with the origins and Old-World derivations of 
our story. Our historians have made their march from 
the sea with their heads over shoulder, their gaze always 
backward upon the landing places and homes of the first 
settlers. In spite of the steady immigration, with its per- 
sistent tide of foreign blood, they have chosen to speak 
often and to think always of our people as sprung after all 
from a common stock, bearing a family likeness in every 
branch, and following all the while old, familiar, family 
ways. The view is the more misleading because it is so 
large a part of the truth without being all of it. The com- 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. I 9 I 

mon British stock did first make the country, and has al- 
ways set the pace. There were common institutions up 
and down the coast; and these had formed and hardened 
for a persistent growth before the great westward migra- 
tion began which was to re-shape and modify every ele- 
ment of our life. The national government itself was set 
up and made strong by success while yet we lingered for 
the most part upon the eastern coast and feared a too dis- 
tant frontier. 

But, the beginnings once safely made, change set in 
apace. Not only so : there had been slow change from 
the first. We have no frontier now, we are told, — except 
a broken fragment, it may be, here and there in some bar- 
ren corner of the western lands, where some inhospitable 
mountain still shoulders us out, or where men are still lacking 
to break the baked surface of the plains, and occupy them 
in the very teeth of hostile nature. But at first it was all 
frontier, — a mere strip of settlements stretched precarious- 
ly upon the sea-edge of the wilds: an untouched conti- 
nent in front of them, and behind them an unfrequented 
sea that almost never showed so much as the momentary 
gleam of a sail. Every step in the slow process of settle- 
ment was but a step of the same kind as the first, an ad- 
vance to a new frontier like the old. For long we lacked, 
it is true, that new breed of frontiersmen born in after 
years beyond the mountains. Those first frontiersmen had 
still a touch of the timidity of the Old World in their 
blood: they lacked the frontier heart. They were "Pil- 
grims" in very fact, — exiled, not at home. Fine courage 
they had: and a steadfastness in their bold design which it 
does a faint-hearted age good to look back upon. There 
was no thought of drawing back. Steadily, almost calmly, 
they extended their seats. They built homes, and deemed 
it certain their children would live there after them. But 
they did not love the rough, uneasy life for its own sake. 



I92 THE COUKSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

How long did they keep, if they could, within sight of the 
sea! The wilderness was their refuge ; but how long be- 
fore it became their joy and hope ! Here was their des- 
tiny cast; but their hearis lingered and held back. It was 
only as generations passed and the work widened about 
them that their thought also changed, and a new thrill 
sped along their blood. Their life had been new and 
strange from their first landing in the wilderness. Their 
houses, their food, their clothing, their neighborhood deal- 
ings were all such as only the frontier brings. Insensibly 
they were themselves changed. The strange life became 
familiar; their adjustment to it was at length unconscious 
and without effort; they had no plans which were not in- 
separably a part and product of it. But, until they had 
turned their backs once for all upon the sea ; until they 
saw their western borders cleared of the French; un- 
til the mountain passes had grown familiar, and the lands 
beyond the central and constant theme of their hope, the 
goal and dream of their young men, they did not become 
an American people. 

When they did, the great determining movement of our 
history began. The very visages of the people changed. 
That alert movement of the eye, that openness to every 
thought of enterprise or adventure, that nomadic habit 
which knows no fixed home and has plans ready to be car- 
ried any whither, — all the marks of the authentic type of 
the " American " as we know him came into our life. The 
crack of the whip and the song of the teamster, the heav- 
ing chorus of boatmen poling their heavy rafts upon the 
rivers, the laughter of the camp, the sound of bodies of 
men in the still forests, became the characteristic notes in 
our air. Our roughened race, embrowned in the sun, 
hardened in manner by a coarse life of change and danger, 
loving the rude woods and the crack of the rifle, living to 
begin something new every day, striking with the broad 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 19^ 

and open hand, delicate in nothing but the touch of the 
trigger, leaving cities in its track as if by accident rather 
than design, settling again to the steady ways of a fixed 
life only when it must: such was the American people 
whose achievement it was to be to take possession of their 
continent from end to end ere their national government 
was a single century old. The picture is a very singular 
one! Settled life and wild side by side: civilization 
frayed at the edges, — taken forward in rough and ready 
fashion, with a song and swagger, — not by statesmen, but 
by woodsmen and drovers, with axes and whips and rifles 
in their hands, clad in buckskin, like huntsmen. 

It has been said that we have here repeated some of the 
first processes of history: that the life and methods of 
our frontiersmen take us back to the fortunes and hopes of 
the men who crossed Europe when her forests, too, were 
still thick upon her. But the difference is really very 
fundamental, and much more worthy of remark than the 
likeness. Those shadowy masses of men whom we see 
moving upon the face of the earth in the far away, ques- 
tionable days when states were forming: even those stal- 
wart figures we see so well as they emerge from the deep 
forests of Germany, to displace the Roman in all his west- 
ern provinces and set up the states we know and marvel 
upon at this day, show us men working their new work at 
their own level. They do not turn back a long cycle of 
years from the old and settled states, the ordered cities, 
the tilled fields, and the elaborated governments of an an- 
cient civilization, to begin as it were once more at the be- 
ginning. They carry alike their homes and their states 
with them in the camp and upon the ordered march of the 
host. They are men of the forest, or else men hardened 
always to take the sea in open boats. They live no more 
roughly in the new lands than in the old. The world has 
been frontier for them from the first. They may go for- 
25 



194 THK COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

ward with their life in these new seats from where they 
left off in the old. How different the circumstances of 
our first settlement and the building of new states on this 
side the sea ! Englishmen, bred in law and ordered gov- 
ernment ever since the Norman lawyers were followed a 
long five hundred years ago across the narrow seas by 
those masterful administrators of the strong Plantagenet 
race, leave an ancient realm and come into a wilderness 
where states have never been ; leave a land of art and let- 
ters, which saw but yesterday " the spacious times of 
great Elizabeth," where Shakespeare still lives in the 
gracious leisure of his closing days at Stratford, where 
cities teem with trade and men go bravely dight in cloth 
of gold, and turn back six centuries, — nay, a thousand 
years and more, — to the first work of building states in a 
wilderness ! They bring the steadied habits and sobered 
thoughts of an ancient realm into the wild air of an un- 
touched continent. The weary stretches of a vast sea lie, 
like a full thousand years of time, between them and the 
life in which till now all their thought was bred. Here 
they stand, as it were, with all their tools left behind, cen- 
turies struck out of their reckoning, driven back upon the 
long dormant instincts and forgotten craft of. their race, 
not used this long age. Look how singular a thing: the 
work of a primitive race, the thought of a civilized ! 
Hence the strange, almost grotesque groupings of thought 
and affairs in that first day of our history. Subtile poli- 
ticians speak the phrases and practice the arts of intricate 
diplomacy from council chambers placed within log huts 
within a clearing. Men in ruffs and lace and polished 
shoe-buckles thread the lonely glades of primeval forests. 
The microscopical distinctions of the schools, the thin 
notes of a metaphysical theology, are woven in and out 
through the labyrinths of grave sermons that run hours 
long upon the still air of the wilderness. Belief in dim 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 19^ 

refinements of dogma is made the test for man or woman 
who seeks admission to a company of pioneers. When 
went there by an age since the great flood when so singu- 
lar a thing was seen as this: thousands of civilized men 
suddenly rusticated and bade do the work of primitive 
peoples, — Europe frontiered ! 

Of course there was a deep change wrought, if not in 
these men, at any rate in their children ; and every gen- 
eration saw the change deepen. It must seem to every 
thoughtful man a notable thing how, while the change was 
wrought, the simples of things complex were revealed in 
the clear air of the New World : how all accidentals 
seemed to fall away from the structure of government, and 
the simple first principles were laid bare that abide always ; 
how social distinctions were stripped off, shown to be the 
mere cloaks and masks they were, and every man brought 
once again to a clear realization of his actual relations to 
his fellows ! It was as if trained and sophisticated men 
had been rid of a sudden of their sophistication and of all 
the theory of their life and left with nothing but their dis- 
cipline of faculty, a schooled and sobered instinct. And 
the lact that we kept always, for close upon three hundred 
years, a like element in our life, a frontier people always 
in our van, is, so far, the central and determining fact of 
our national history. "East" and "West," an ever- 
changing line, but an unvarying experience and a constant 
leaven of change working always within the body of our 
folk. Our political, our economic, our social life has felt 
this potent influence from the wild border all our history 
through. The "West" is the great word of our history. 
The "Westerner" has been the type and master of our 
American life. Now at length, as I have said, we have 
lost our frontier: our front lies almost unbroken along all 
the great coast line of the western sea. The Westerner, in 
some day soon to come, will pass out of our life, as he so 



ig6 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

long ago passed out of the life of the Old World. Then a 
new epoch will open for us. Perhaps it has opened al- 
ready. Slowly we shall grow old, compact our people, 
study the delicate adjustments of an intricate society, and 
ponder the niceties, as we have hitherto pondered the 
bulks and structural framework, of government. Have we 
not, indeed, already come to these things? But the past 
we know. We can " see it steady and see it whole;" and 
its central movement and motive are gross and obvious to 
the eye. 

Till the first century of the Constitution is rounded out 
we stand, all the while, in the presence of that stupendous 
westward movement which has filled the continent: so 
vast, so various, at times so tragical, so swept by passion. 
Through all the long time there has been a line of rude 
settlements along our front wherein the same tests of 
power and of institutions were still being made that were 
made first upon the sloping banks of the rivers of old 
Virginia and within the long sweep of the Bay of Massa- 
chusetts. The new life of the West has reacted all the 
while, — who shall say how powerfully, — upon the older 
life of the East: and yet the East has moulded the West 
as if she sent forward to it through every decade of the 
long process the chosen impulses and suggestions of his- 
tory. The West has taken strength, thought, training, se- 
lected aptitudes out of the old treasures of the East, — as 
if out of a new Orient ; while the E ist has itself been kept 
fresh, vital, alert, originative by the West, her blood quick- 
ened all the while, her youth through every age renewed. 
Who can say in a word, in a sentence, in a volume, what 
destinies have been variously wrought, with what new 
examples of growth and energy, while, upon this unex- 
ampled scale, community has passed beyond community 
across the vast reaches of this great continent ! 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. I 07 

The great process is the more significant because it has 
been distinctively a national process. Until the Union was 
formed and we had consciously set out upon a separate 
national career, we moved but timidly across the nearer 
hills. Our most remote settlements lay upon the rivers 
and in the open glades of Tennessee and Kentucky. It 
was in the years that immediately succeeded the war of 
1 8 12 that the movement into the West began to be a 
mighty migration. Till then our eyes had been more 
often in the East than in the West. Not only were for- 
eign questions to be settled and our standing among the 
nations to be made good, but we still remained acutely 
conscious and deliberately conservative of our Old- World 
connections. For all we were so new a people and lived 
so simple and separate a life, we had still the sobriety and 
the circumspect fashions of action that belong to an old 
society. We were, in government and manners, but a dis- 
connected part of the world beyond the seas. Its thought 
and habit still set us our standards of speech and action. 
And this, not because of imitation, but because of actual 
and long-abiding political and social connection with the 
mother country. Our statesmen, — strike but the names of 
Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry from the list, together 
with all like untutored spirits, who stood for the new, un- 
reverencing ardor of a young democracy, — our statesmen 
were such men as might have taken their places in the 
House of Commons or in the Cabinet at home as natural- 
ly and with as easy an adjustment to their place and task 
as in the Continental Congress or in the immortal Consti- 
tutional Convention. Think of the stately ways and the 
grand air and the authoritative social understandings of 
the generation that set the new government afoot, — the 
generation of Washington and John Adams. Think, too, 
of the conservative tradition that guided all the early his- 
tory of that government : that early line of gentlemen 



198 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

Presidents: that steady "cabinet succession to the Presi- 
dency " which came at length to seem almost like an 
oligarchy to the impatient men who were shut out from it. 
The line ended, with a sort of chill, in stiff John Ouincy 
Adams, too cold a man to be a people's prince after the 
old order of Presidents; and the year 1829, which saw 
Jackson come in, saw the old order go out. 

The date is significant. Since the war of 1812, under- 
taken as if to set us free to move westward, seven States 
had been admitted to the Union: and the whole number 
of States was advanced to twenty-four. Eleven new 
States had come into partnership with the old thirteen. 
The voice of the West rang through all our counsels; 
and, in Jackson, the new partners took possession of the 
Government. It is worth while to remember how men 
stood amazed at the change: how startled, chagrined, dis- 
mayed the conservative States of the East were at the rev- 
olution they saw effected, the riot of change they saw set 
in ; and no man who has once read the singular story can 
forget how the eight years Jackson reigned saw the Gov- 
ernment, and politics themselves, transformed. For long, 
— the story being written in the regions where the shock 
and surprise of the change was greatest, — the period of 
this momentous revolution was spoken of amongst us as a 
period of degeneration, the birth-time of a deep and per- 
manent demoralization in our politics. But we see it dif- 
ferently now. Whether we have any taste or stomach for 
that rough age or not, however much we may wish that 
the old order might have stood, the generation of Madi- 
son and Adams have been prolonged, and the good tradi- 
tion of the early days handed on unbroken and unsullied, 
we now know that what the nation underwent in that day 
of change was not degeneration, great and perilous as were 
the errors of the time, but regeneration. The old order 
was changed, once and for all. A new nation stepped, 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. I 99 

with a touch of swagger, upon the stage, — a nation which 
had broken alike with the traditions and with the wisely 
wrought experience of the Old World, and which, with all 
the haste and rashness of youth, was minded to work out 
a separate policy and destiny of its own. It was a day of 
hazards, but there was nothing sinister at the heart of the 
new plan. It was a wasteful experiment, to fling out, with- 
out wise guides, upon untried ways; but an abounding 
continent afforded enough and to spare even for the waste- 
ful. It was sure to be so with a nation that came out of 
the secluded vales of a virgin continent. It was the bold 
frontier voice of the West sounding in affairs. The timid 
shivered, but the robust waxed strong and rejoiced, in the 
tonic air of the new day. 

It was then we swung out into the main paths of our 
history. The new voices that called us were first silvery, 
like the voice of Henry Clay, and spoke old familiar 
words of eloquence. The first spokesmen of the West 
even tried to con the classics, and spoke incongruously in 
the phrases of politics long dead and gone to dust, as Ben- 
ton did. But presently the tone changed, and it was the 
truculent and masterful accents of the real frontiersman 
that rang dominant above the rest, harsh, impatient, and 
with an evident dash of temper. The East slowly accus- 
tomed itself to the change; caught the movement, though 
it grumbled and even trembled at the pace; and managed 
most of the time to keep in the running. But it was al- 
ways henceforth to be the West that set the pace. There 
is no mistaking the questions that have ruled our spirits as 
a nation during the present century. The public land 
question, the tariff question, and the question of slavery, 
— these dominate from first to last. It was the West that 
made each one of these the question that it was. Without 
the free lands to which every man who chose might go, 
there would not have been that easy prosperity of life and 



20O THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

that high standard of abundance which seemed to render 
it necessary that, if we were to have manufactures and a 
diversified industry at all, we should foster new under- 
takings by a system of protection which would make the 
profits of the factory as certain and as abundant as the 
profits of the farm. It was the constant movement of the 
population, the constant march of wagon trains into the 
West, that made it so cardinal a matter of policy whether 
the great national domain should be free land or not: and 
that was the land question. It was the settlement of the 
West that transformed slavery from an accepted institution 
into passionate matter of controversy. 

Slavery within the States of the Union stood sufficiently 
protected by every solemn sanction the Constitution could 
afford. No man could touch it there, think, or hope, or 
purpose what he might. But where new States were to be 
made it was not so. There at every step choice must be 
made: slavery or no slavery? — a new choice for every 
new State : a fresh act of origination to go with every 
fresh act of organization. Had there been no Territories, 
there could have been no slavery question, except by revo- 
lution and contempt of fundamental law. But with a con- 
tinent to be peopled, the choice thrust itself insistently for- 
ward at every step and upon every hand. This was the 
slavery question : not what should be done to reverse the 
past, but what should be done to redeem the future. It 
was so men of that day saw it, — and so also must histo- 
rians see it. We must not mistake the programme of the 
Anti-Slavery Society for the platform of the Republican 
party, or forget that the very war itself was begun ere any 
purpose of abolition took shaj e amongst those who were 
statesmen and in authority. It was a question, not of free- 
ing men, but of preserving a Free Soil. Kansas showed 
us what the problem was, not South Carolina: and it was 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 201 

the Supreme Court, not the slave-owners, who formulated 
the matter for our thought and purpose. 

And so, upon every hand and throughout every national 
question, was the commerce between East and West made 
up: that commerce and exchange of ideas, inclinations, 
purposes, and principles which has constituted the moving 
force of our life as a nation. Men illustrate the opera- 
tion of these singular forces better than questions can : 
and no man illustrates it better than Abraham Lincoln. 

"Great captains with their guns and drums 
Disturb our judgment for the hour ; 
But at last silence comes: 

These all are gone, and, standing like a tower, 
Our children shall behold his fame, 
The kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man, 
Sagacious, patient, dreading praise not blame, 
New birth of our new soil, the first American." 

It is a poet's verdict; but it rings in the authentic tone 
of the seer. It must also be the verdict of history. He 
would be a rash man who should say he understood Abra- 
ham Lincoln. No doubt natures deep as his. and various 
almost to the point of self-contradiction, can be sounded 
only by the judgment of men of a like sort, — if any such 
there be. But some things we all may see and judge con- 
cerning him. You have in him the type and flower of 
our growth. It is as if Nature had made a typical Amer- 
ican, and then had added with liberal hand the royal qual- 
ity of genius, to show us what the type could be. Lin- 
coln owed nothing to his birth, everything to his growth : 
had no training save what he gave himself; no nurture, but 
only a wild and native strength. His life was his schooling, 
and every day of it gave to his character a new touch of 
development. His manhood not only, but his perception 
also, expanded with his life. His eyes, as they looked more 
and more abroad, beheld the national life, and compre- 
hended it: and the lad who had been so rough-cut a pro- 
2G 



202 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

vincial became, when grown to manhood, the one leader in 
all the nation who held the whole people singly in his 
heart: — held even the Southern people there, and would 
have won them back. And so we have in him what we 
must call the perfect development of native strength, the 
rounding out and nationalization of the provincial. An- 
drew Jackson was a type, not of the nation, but of the 
West. For all the tenderness there was in the stormy 
heart of the masterful man, and staunch and simple loy- 
alty to all who loved him, he learned nothing in the East; 
kept always the flavor of the rough school in which he 
had been bred : was never more than a frontier soldier and 
gentleman. Lincoln differed from Jackson by all the 
length of his unmatched capacity to learn. Jackson could 
understand only men of his own kind ; Lincoln could under- 
stand men of all sorts and from every region of the land : 
seemed himself, indeed, to be all men by turns, as mood 
succeeded mood in his strange nature. He never ceased 
to stand, in his bony angles, the express image of the un- 
gainly frontiersman. His mind never lost the vein of 
coarseness that had marked him grossly when a youth. 
And yet how he grew and strengthened in the real stuff of 
dignity and greatness : how nobly he could bear himself 
without the aid of grace ! He kept always the shrewd and 
seeing eye of the woodsman and the hunter, and the flavor 
of wild life never left him : and yet how easily his view 
widened to great affairs: how surely he perceived the 
value and the significance of whatever touched him and 
made him neighbor to itself! 

Lincoln's marvellous capacity to extend his comprehen- 
sion to the measure of what he had in hand is the one dis- 
tinguishing mark of the man : and to study the develop- 
ment of that capacity in him is little less than to study, 
where it is as it were perfectly registered, the national life 
itself. This boy lived his youth in Illinois when it was a 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 203 

frontier State. The youth of the State was coincident 
with his own : and man and his State kept equal pace in 
their striding advance to maturity. The frontier popula- 
tion was an intensely political population. It felt to the 
quick the throb of the nation's life, — for the nation's life 
ran through it, going its eager way to the westward. The 
West was not separate from the East. Its communities 
were every day receiving fresh members from the East, and 
the fresh impulse of direct suggestion. Their blood 
flowed to them straight from the warmest veins of the 
older communities. More than that, elements which were 
separated in the East were mingled in the West; which 
displayed to the eye as it were a sort of epitome of the 
most active and permanent forces of the national life. In 
such communities as these Lincoln mixed daily from the 
first with men of every sort and from every quarter of the 
country. With them he discussed neighborhood politics, 
the politics of the State, the politics of the nation, — and 
his mind became travelled as he talked. How plainly 
amongst such neighbors, there in Illinois, must it have be- 
come evident that national questions were centring more 
and more in the West as the years went by: coming as it 
were to meet them. Lincoln went twice down the Missis- 
sippi, upon the slow rafts that carried wares to its mouth, 
and saw with his own eyes, so used to look directly and 
point-blank upon men and affairs, characteristic regions of 
the South. He worked his way slowly and sagaciously, 
with that larger sort of sagacity which so marked him all his 
life, into the active business of State politics ; sat twice in 
the State legislature, and then for a term in Congress, — his 
sensitive and seeing mind open all the while to every turn 
of fortune and every touch of nature in the moving affairs 
he looked upon. All the while, too, he continued to can- 
vass, piece by piece, every item of politics, as of old, with 
his neighbors, familiarly around the stove, or upon the cor- 



204 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

ners of the street, or more formally upon the stump ; and 
kept always in direct contact with the ordinary views of 
ordinary men. Meanwhile he read, as nobody else around 
him read, and sought to gain a complete mastery over 
speech, with the conscious purpose to prevail in its use: 
derived zest from the curious study of mathematical proof, 
and amusement as well as strength from the practice of 
clean and naked statements of truth. It was all irregular- 
ly done, but strenuously, with the same instinct through- 
out, and with a steady access of facility and power. There 
was no sudden leap for this man, any more than for other 
men, from crudeness to finished power, from an under- 
standing of the people of Illinois to an understanding of 
the people of the United States. And thus he came at 
last, with infinite pains and a wonder of endurance to his 
great national task with a self-trained capacity which no 
man could match, and made upon a scale as liberal as the 
life of the people. You could not then set this athlete a 
pace in learning or in perceiving that was too hard for 
him. He knew the people and their life as no other man 
did or could : and now stands in his place singular in all 
the annals of mankind, the " brave, sagacious, foreseeing, 
patient man " of the people, " new birth of our new soil, 
the first American." 

We have here a national man presiding over sectional 
men. Lincoln understood the East better than the East 
understood him or the people from whom he sprung: and 
this is every way a very noteworthy circumstance. For 
my part, I read a lesson in the singular career of this great 
man. Is it possible the East remains sectional while the 
West broadens to a wider view? 

"Be strong-backed, brown-handed, upright as your pines; 
By the scale of a hemisphere shape your designs, " 

is an inspiring programme for the woodsman and the 
pioneer; but how are you to be brown-handed in a city 



THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 



205 



office ? What if you never see the upright pines? How 
are you to have so big a purpose on so small a part of the 
hemisphere? As it has grown old, unquestionably, the 
East has grown sectional. There is no suggestion of the 
prairie, in its city streets, or of the embrowned ranchman 
and farmer in its well-dressed men. Its ports teem with 
shipping from Europe and the Indies. Its newspapers run 
upon the themes of an Old World. It hears of the great 
plains of the continent as of foreign parts, which it may 
never think to see except from a car window. Its life is 
self-centred and selfish. The West, save where special in- 
terests centre (as in those pockets of silver where men's 
eyes catch as it were an eager gleam from the very ore it- 
self) : the West is in less danger of sectionalization. Who 
shall say in that wide country where one region ends and 
another begins, or, in that free and changing society, where 
one class ends and another begins? 

This, surely, is the moral of our history. The East has 
spent and been spent for the West: has given forth her 
energy, her young men and her substance, for the new 
regions that have been a-making all the century through. 
But has she learned as much as she has taught, or taken as 
much as she has given? Look what it is that has now at 
last taken place. The westward march has stopped, upon 
the final slopes of the Pacific; and now the plot thickens. 
Populations turn upon their old paths; fill in the spaces 
they passed by neglected in their first journey in search of 
a'land of promise; settle to a life such as the East knows 
as well as the West, — nay, much better. With the change, 
the pause, the settlement, our people draw into closer 
groups, stand face to face, to know each other and be 
known; and the time has come for the East to learn in 
her turn: to broaden her understanding of political and 
economic conditions of the scale of a hemisphere, as her 
own poet bade. Let us be sure that we get the national 



206 THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

temperament; send our minds abroad upon the continent, 
become neighbors to all the people that live upon it, and 
lovers of them all, as Lincoln was. 

Read but your history aright, and you shall not find the 
task too hard. Your own local history, look but deep 
enough, tells the tale you must take to heart. Here upon 
our own seaboard, as truly as ever in the West, was once 
a national frontier, with an elder East beyond the seas. 
Here, too, various peoples combined, and elements sep- 
arated elsewhere effected a tolerant and wholesome mix- 
ture. Here, too, the national stream flowed full and 
strong, bearing a thousand things upon its currents. Let 
us resume and keep the vision of that time: know our- 
selves, our neighbors, our destiny, with lifted and open 
eyes: see our history truly, in its great proportions: be 
ourselves liberal as the great principles we profess; and so 
be a people who might have again the heroic adventures 
and do again the heroic work of the past. 'Tis thus we 
shall renew our youth and secure our age against decay. 



INDEX. 



27 



Index to Bibliography of the Society. 



Note.— This Index to the Bibliography of the Society, Kiven on pages 153-167, 
is practically a topical index to the first twenty-three volumes of the Proceedings, 
as well as to the other publications of the Society. 



Abeel, Col. James, letter to, 1779, 156 
Aborigines of New Jersey, the— Archer 

Gifford, 154 
Addresses and Papers by: — 

Allinson. Samuel. 156 

Alofsen, Solomon. 155 

Armstrong. Edward. 154, 162 

Bernard. James. 156 

Bradley, Joseph P.. 155. 157. 161 

Brinton, Dr. Daniel G., 167 

Brown, Allen H., 157. 158, 165 

Carrington. Henry B.. 157, 165 

Carnahan, James, 154 

Collin. Nicholas. 154 

Davidson, Rev Robert. 154. 162 

Doane, Rt. Rev. Geo. Washington, 162 

Duer. Wm. Alexander. 159 

Elmer. Lucius Q. C. 156. 164 

Eyre. Franklin. 166 

Field, Richard S.. 154. 155, 156, 159, 163 

Frelinghuysen. Theo.. 154 

Griffith, Dr. J. H.. 159, 167 

Gifford. Archer. 154 

Hageman. John F.. 157. 165 

Hallock. Robert C. 158 

Halsey, Edmund D., 156, 158 

Harrison. Benjamin. 159 

Haven. Charles C 155. 156 

Hayes. David A.. 155 

Howell. G. W.. 157 

Hunt. William T.. 159 

Johnson. Robert G. 154 

Keasbey. Anthony Q., 156. 157, 158. 164, 
166 ' 

King. Charles. 153. 154 

Lee. Francis Bazley, 159 

Littell, S.. 157 

Lloyd. Aaron. 158 

McWhorter, G. C. 155 

Megill, C. 156 

Messier. Abraham. 154 

Miller, Jacob W.. 155, 163 

Mellick. Andrew D.. Jr., 158, 166 

Moffatt. James C.. 157. 164 

Mott. George S.. 157. 164 

Murray. Nicholas. 154 

Neilson. James, 158 

Nelson. William. 156. 157, 15s. 159, 164. 
165. 166. 167 

Nixon. John T., 156 

Parker. Cortlandt. 158. 163 

Parker. James. 155 

Parker, Joel. 156 



Parker. R. Wayne. 157 

Parrish, Joseph. 158 

Pennington, Samuel H.. 158. 166 

Phillips. Henrv. Jr., 157 

Phillips. J. H..' 159 

Pierson, Mrs. Frederick H., 15*. 159, 

166, 167 
Potter. William E.. 157 
Prime, Samuel Irenfeus. 157, 165 
Pumpellv, Josiah Collins, 158, 166 
Race, Henry. 158, lu>. 166 
Rafn, C. C, 151 
Ricord. Frederick W., 158 
Rutherfurd. John. 156 
Salter. Edwin. 156 
Schanck, Garret C. 154 
Schenck, A. D., 156 
Sheldon, George. 157 
Scott, Austin. 158, 159 
Smith. John Jay, 155. 163 
Smith. Morgan L., 156 
Stafford, Sarah Smith. 155. 156 
Stevenson. John M.. 159 
Stryker. William S.. 157. 164. 105 
Studdiford, Samuel M.. 15S 
Swords, Robert S.. 156, 158. 164 
Taylor. A.. 155 

Throckmorton. Benjamin. 157 
Tuttle. Joseph F.. 155, 156. 157. 158. 162. 

164 

Ward, J. D . 155 

White. Barclay. 15S 

Whitehead. Wm. A., 154, 155. 156. 157. 

159. 162. 163. 164 
Wickes, Stephen, 158 
Wilson. James Grant. 156. 157, 158. 164 
Wilson. Woodrow. 159 
Wintield. Charles EL, L57, 161 
Woodhull. Ann M.. 159. 165 
Yard. James S.. 158. 166 
Annapolis convention, 17S6. report of 

commissioners to. 156 
American history, the coins.' of Wood- 
row Wilson. 159 
American newspaper tiles. 1704-1800, and 
where they may be found— Wm. 
Nelson, 167 
American Newspapers, extracts from. 

relating to New Jersey, 161, 162 
American Union, the, and the perils to 
which it has boon exposed -Joseph 
P. Bradley, 153 
Analytical index to the colonial docu- 



2IO 



INDEX TO BIBI.IOGRAPY. 



merits of New Jersey, etc.— Henry 

Stevens and Wm. A. Whitehead, 

160 
Anderson. President John, administra- 
tion of, 161 
Archives of the State of New Jersey, 

100. 162 
Assemblies of New Jersey, tables of the 

sittings, and names of members. 

154 
Belcher. Gov. Jonathan, administration 

of. 161 
Belleville— see Second River 
Bergen county official records, report on, 

1874— Wm. Nelson. 156 
Bergen. Lord Cornburv to inhabitants 

of. 153 
Berkley and Carteret, grant from, to 

people of Woodbridge and Samuel 

Moore, 1672. 156 
Bernard. Gov. Francis, administration 

of. 16L 
Bibliography of the New Jersey Histor- 
ical Society. 159 
Bi-centennial of the purchase of East 

Jersey by the Proprietors in 1683— 

A. Q. Keasbey. 157 
Biographies. Memoirs, etc.. of— 
Alexander, William, Earl of Stirling. 

159 
Allinson. Samuel, 157. 165 
Andre. Major John. 156 lo4 
Assemblymen in 1754. 157 
Bacon. John. 153 
Bayard, Col. John. 157, 104 
Bayard. Judge Samuel. 105 
Berkley. Lord John. i58 
Bloomtield. Gov. Joseph. 157. 165 
Bradley. Justice Joseph P.. 158 
Buckingham. Rev. Jedidiah. 166 
Burnet, David G.. 155 
Burnet. Gov. William. 167 
Caldwell. Rev. James. 153 
Camptleld. Dr. Jabez. 156. 164 
Carteret. Sir George, 158 
Carteret. Philip, 156 
Coles. Dr. Abraham, 158 
Colfax. Capt. Wm.. 157. 164 
Cook. Prof. George H.. 158. 166 
Dayton. William L.. 157. 164 
De Hart. John. 157 
Dickerson, Mahlon. 158, 166 
Elmer. Lucius Q. C. 157 
Eyre. George. 166 
Fenwick. Maj. John. 153. 151 
Field. Richard S.. 156. 164 
Franklin. Gov. William. 153, 162 
Frelinghuysen. Frederick T.. 157. 165 
Gardiner family of West Jersey. 105 
Governors of New Jersey, 1770-1845. 

160 
Green. Rev. Jacob. 158 
Greenland family. 158 
Haines. Rev. Alanson A.. 158 
Halsey, George A.. 159 
Hamiil. Rev. Samuel M.. 158. 166 
Henry, Joseph. 157. 164 
Hermann. August. 158 
Hornblower, Joseph C, 155. 163. 107 
Hornblower, Josiah, 157, 165 
Hornblower family. 157. 105 
Irvine. Gen. Wm.. 165 
Johnson. Col. Philip. 157 
Jones. Chief Justice Nathaniel, 155 
Kearny. Philip. 163 



King. Rev. Barnabas. 150 

King. James Gore. 155 

KirUpatrick. Chief Justice Andrew. 
156 

Lamb. Mrs. Martha J.. 158. 166 

Littell. Capt. Eliakim, 157 

Little Egg Harbor families. 157 

McCrea, Miss Jennie. 158. 165 

McLean, Rev. Daniel V.. 156 

McWhorter family. 155 

Maxwell. Gen. Wm.. 159, 165 

Morris, Gov. Lewis. 153. 169 

Newark families 160 

Nixon, Judge John T.. 158. 166 

( >gden, Col. Aaron, 158. 167 

Parker. James. 156. 163 

Parker. Gov. Joel. 158. 166 

Parrish. Dr. Joseph. 158, 166 

Pennington. Wm.. 159 

Pitney. Dr. Jonathan. 157. 165 

Rodgers. Rev. Ravaud Kearny. 157 

Rutherfurd. John. 156. 164 

Schooley family. 158 

Schuyler genealogy. 153. 157, 165 

Sims. Clifford Stanley. 167 

Smith. Samuel J.. 155. 163 

Spencer. Col. Oliver. 158 

Spicer. Samuel, and descendants. 159 

Stafford. Mrs. Abigail, 155 

Stirling, Major General, the Earl of, 
159 

Stockton. Richard. 157. 164 

Symmes. John Cleves. 157. 164 

Tennent, Rev. William, 153 

Thomas. Abel, 153 

Ward. Marcus Lawrence, 158 

Wickes. Dr. Stephen. 158 

Winds. Gen. William. 155. 162 

White. Brig. Gen. Anthony Walton. 
157. 103 

Whitehead. Wm. A.. 157, 163 

Young. Adolphus Pennington, 163 
Books relating to New Jersey, present- 
ed to the Society in 1891. 15s: pub- 
lished in 1892-1893, 158; published 
in 1894, 159 
Boone. Gov. Thomas, administration of, 

161 
Bordentown, regimental returns, etc.. 

1776-7. 156 
Boundaries between East and West Jer- 
sey. 153; between New York and 
New Jersey. 155. 156. 163: John 
Cochrane and Henry B. Dawson on, 
163 
Brinton. Dr. Daniel G.— An Ethnolo- 
gist's View of History. 167 
Brotherton Indian lands in Burlington. 
account of. Samuel Allinson. 150: 
letter on, from Robert Gilchrist, 
157 
Burlington, reminiscences of— John Jay 

Smith. 155. 103 
Burnet. Gov. Wm., administration of. 
101 : original documents relating 
to. 167 
Burr, Aaron, Vice President, Gilbert 
Stuart's portrait of— David A. 
Hayes. 157; letter of congratula- 
tion on his marriage— from Col. W. 
S. Livingston. 150 
Camden county, early settlements of, 

100 
Canada, expedition to, in August, 1690, 
153; in 1776, 153 



INDEX TO miU.IOGRAPHY. 



211 



Cape May, early settlements of. 159 

Carrington, Gen. Henry B.— The strat- 
egic relations of New Jersey to the 
War for American independence, 
157, 165 

Carteret, Elizabeth, leases East Jersey, 
154 

Centennial celebrations in New Jersey, 
1876, 157 

Centennial medal. 15s 

Centennial of the Federal Government. 
1889. report of committee on. 158 

Charleston. S. C, siege of by British in 
1780, 153 

Church, Alonzo— Sketches of the New 
Jersey Historical Society. 157 

Cities, the early, of New Jersey Aus- 
tin Scott. 158 

Colden. Cadwallader— New York and 
New Jersey under the joint Gov- 
ernors. 155 

Columbus, resting place of the remains 
of— Wm. A. Whitehead. 157: The 
1 nines of— Robert S. Swords. 157: 
letter from the Archbishop of 
Santo Domingo relating to. 157 

Commercial projects of New Jersey dur- 
ing the Confederation, 1783 — John 
Kutherfurd. 156 

Confederation. Articles of. 1778, New 
Jersey's objections to. 155 

Congar. Samuel H. — genealogical not ices 
of the first settlers of Newark. 160 

Constitution and by-laws of the Society, 
various editions of. 153 

Constitution and government of the 
Province and State of New Jersey 
—Lucius Q. C. Elmer, 160. 164 

"Cooks of Dozens." interpretation of. 
154 

Copper mines at Second River— Wm. 
Nelson. 155 

Cornbury. Lord, administration of. 161 

Cosby, Gov. Wm., administration of. 161 

Dayton. Col. Jonathan, orders to, 1776, 
154 

Detroit, expedition to. in 1761. 155 

Diaries, Journals, etc.. by 
Baldwin. Samuel, in Charleston, 1780. 

153 
Bangs, Lieut. Isaac, 1776. 155 
Barton. Lieut. Wm.. in Sullivan's Ex- 
pedition. 1779. 153 
Bayard. Judge. 157 
Beil. Andrew. 1778, 154 
Camplield. Surgeon Jabez. 1779 156.164 
Clark. Joseph. 1778-1779. 155 
Cutler. Manasseh. 17S7-1788, 156 
Dayton. ( !apt., 1764. 155 
Elmer. Ebenezer. in Sullivan's Expe- 
dition. 1779, 153. 154 
Ford. ('apt. David. 1794, 155. 163 
Gould. Maj. William, to Western Penn- 
sylvania, 1794. 154 
Schuyler. Capt. John, to Canada, 1690. 

153 
Spicer. Jacob. 1757. 154 
Thomas, Abel, in the South. 1781. 153 

Early settlers on the sea-coast of New- 
Jersey, character and employments 
of the -Rev. Allen H. Brown. 157 

East Jersey, lease of. 154 

East Jersey under the Proprietary gov- 
ernments— Wm. A. Whitehead, 159 

Eastern boundary of New Jersej Wm. 



A. Whitehead and others. 155 
Elizabeth, review of some of the circum- 
stances connected with the settle- 
ment of —Wm. A. Whitehead, 156, 

164; letter Of Lewis Mollis to the 
people of, 1698, 157: some records 
of the French— Mrs. Emeline G. 
Pierson. 159 

Elmer. Lucius Q. ('. The constitution 
and government of the Province 
and state of New Jersey, etc.. ir,u 

Essex county, criminal statistics of. 
1838-1845, 153: list of freeholders of , 
1775. 157 

Female suffrage in New Jersey Wm. A. 
Whitehead. 155 

Flag of "Le Bon Homme Richard" 
Miss Sarah Smith Stafford, 156 

Flag of the United States ('.('. Eaven 
156 

Forest formerly on Hackensack mead- 
ows, letters on. 157 

Fort Nassau, history and location of— 
Edward Armstrong, 154. 16\! 

Franklin. Benjamin, memoranda relat- 
ing to his administration of the 
colonial post-office. 153: letters to. 
153. 154. 155. 151) 

Franklin.Gov. Wm.. administration of. 
161 

Freehold committee, proceedings on 
opening of the Revolution. 153 

Freehold tombstone inscriptions. 156 

French Allies, our. in the Keyolution— J. 
C. Pumpelly. 158 

Fulton. Robert, drawings and papers of. 
155 

Great seal of New Jersey -F. B. Lee, 
159 

Greenland in New Jersey — Dr. Henry 
Race. 158. 166 

Griffith, Dr. J. H. -Gen. Win. Maxwell. 
167 

Goodly Heritage of Jerseymen— Rt. Rev. 
Geo. W. Doane, 162 

Governor and Council of New Jersey, 
Journals of. 1682 1776, 162 

Haddontield. regimental returns, etc., 
1776-7. 156 

Hamilton. Gov. Andrew, letter to, 153 

Hamilton. President John, administra- 
tion of. 161 

Hardy. Gov. Josiah, administration of. 
161 

Haven. Rev. Samuel, letter from Wash- 
ington to. 1 7S7. 156 

Hayes. David A. Gilbert Stuart's por- 
trait Of Col. Aaron Burr, 155 

Eessians, the. in New Jersey, jusl a lit- 
tle in their favor A. D. Mellick. 
jr., 158, 166 

Hiberaia furnace and the surrounding 
country in the Bl \ olul ionary war 
—Rev. Joseph K. Tuttle, D. D., 157 

Highway, a. of the Nation Austin 
Scott. President of Rutgers Col- 
lege, 159 

Historical societies, the uses and bene- 
fits of 'I odore Prelinghuysen, 

154 

Historical work in New Jersey, fifty 
years of Wm. Nelson. 159 

Hollanders in New Jerses the Abra- 
ham Messier, D. i» . 154 

Hunter, ( rov. R-. administration of. 101 



212 



INDEX TO BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



Hunterdon county, first century of -Rev. 

George S. Mott, D. D.. 157, 161 
Hunterdon county history, contributions 

to— Dr. Henry Race. 158. 166 
Hunterdon county, instructions of free- 
holders of. to representatives in 
Assembly. 1771. 155 
Ingoldsby. Lieut. Gov. Richard, admin- 
istration of. 161 
Indian purchases, claimants under the, 

154 
Indians of New Jersey, fragmentary his- 
tory of -Samuel Allinson. 156 
Indians of New Jersey— Wm. Nelson, 
167 
See Aborigines of New Jersey 
'• Iron State." the, its natural position, 
power and wealth— Jacob W, 
Miller. 155, 163 
Jersey. Isle of, notice of— Wm. Nelson. 

160 
Johnson. Sir John, orders for capture of, 

1776. 156 
Jones. Nathaniel, his appointment as 
Chief Justice— Wm. A. Whitehead, 
157 
Kinney. Wm. B.— oration at bi-centen- 

nial celebration of Newark, 160 
Lease from Elizabeth Carteret, for East 

Jersey. 154 
Letters from: — 
Alexander, William, Earl of Stirling. 

151. 155 
Armstrong, Edward, 154 
Assembly of New Jersey, to Benjamin 

Franklin. 176ft. 155 
Cornburv. Lord. 1706. 153 
Da vies, Samuel. 1759-1760, 153 
Dockwra, Wm., 1693. 153 
Franklin, Gov. Wm., 1767-1769, 153; 

1774. 154 
Franklin, Mrs. Wm , 1776, 157 
Gilchrist. Robert, 157 
Greene, Gen. N., 1779. 156 
Hopkins, Rev. Samuel, 1758, 155 
Livingston. Col. W. S.. 1782, 156 
Logan. James, 1719. 153 
Morris, Robert. 1781, 154 
Ogden. David. 1767, 154 
Ogden. Rev. Uzal, 154 
" Pierwim, ye Sachem of Pau " 154 
Santo Domingo. Archbishop of. 157 
Sherwood, Joseph, 1761-1766, 154 
Smith, Morgan L.. 156 
Steuben. Mij. Gen., 1783. 154 
Stockton, Richard (Signer), 1765, 153 
Stockton, Richard (U. S. Senator), 

1798, 156 
Strahan. Wm.. 1763, 153, 154 
Washington, Gen. George, 1780. 1787, 
156 
Little Egg Harbor genealogies. 157 
Lovelace, Lord, administration of. 161 
Maps, two, of America, 1550, 1555, ac- 
count of. by Henry Phillips, jr., 
157 
Marriages of Friends in Philadelphia, 

168-2-1714, 155 
Massacre near Old Tappan, the— Wm. S. 

Stryker, 164 
Mawhood, Col., proposals of to militia of 

Salem county, in 1778, 155 
Maxwell. General, his brigade in the ex- 
pedition against the Indians in 
1779— Wm. S. Stryker, 165; sketch 



of— Dr. J. H. Phillips, 159 

Members of the Society, Honorary. Cor- 
responding and Resident. 1866, list 
of. 156: Resident. 1893, 158 

Middlesex, list of freeholders of, about 
1750. 159 

Monmouth county, the discovery and 
settlement of— Rev. A. A. Marcel - 
lus, 153: Monmouth court house, 
battle of— Charles King. 154: Mon- 
mouth county during the Provin- 
cial era— Joel Parker, 156 

Monmouth and Ocean counties, origin 
and signification of geographical 
names in— Edwin Salter, 156 

Montgomerie. Gov. John, administra- 
tion of. 161 

Moore, Samuel, grant from Berkley and 
Carteret to. 1672. 156 

Moravian settlement in Sussex county— 
Dr. Henry Race, 158, 166 

Morris, Gov. Lewis, Papers of— edited 
by Wm. A. Whitehead. 159 

Morris. President Lewis, administration 
of, 161 

Morris county, early history of— Rev, 
Joseph F. Tuttle, D. D., 156, 1G4 

Morristown, regimental returns, etc., 
1776-7, 156 

Morristown academy (with list of pupils 
attending, 1792-1796), library and 
printing press, account of the es- 
tablishment of, 155 

Mott, Rev. George S., D. D.— First cen- 
tury of Hunterdon county, 157. L64 

Mount Ployden, inquiry into the loca- 
tion of— Rev. Garret C. Schanck, 
154 

Nelson, William (editor)— Archives of 
New Jersey, 161, 162: History of 
American Newspapers. Alabama — 
New Hampshire, 161-162 

Nelson, William— report on the records 
of Bergen county (1873), 156: an in- 
teresting memento of Major John 
Andre (1875), 156, 164: biographical 
sketch of Captain William Colfax 
(1876). 157, 164: Josiah Hornblower 
and the first steam engine in 
America, with some notices of the 
Schuyler copper mines at Second 
River, and a genealogy of the 
Hornblower family (1883), 157, 165; 
some notices of Gov. Joseph 
Bloomtield (1886), 157, 165; the 
founding of Paterson as the in- 
tended manufacturing metropolis 
of the United States (1887), 15S, 
165; Sir George Carteret. Lord 
proprietor of New Jersey, with a 
notice of the Isle of Jersey, and a 
brief sketch of Lord John Berkley 
(1892), 158: the early days of the 
Newark Academy (1893), 158, 166; 
some unpublished Revolutionary 
Manuscripts (1894), 159: American 
newspaper tiles, 1704-1830 (1893), 
167; the Indians of New Jersey, 
their origin and development, etc. 
(1894), 167: Joseph Coerten Horn- 
blower. Chief Justice of New Jer- 
sey, 1832-1846 (1894), 167: members 
of the New Jersey Assembly. 1754 
(1895). 167: Clifford Stanley' Sims, 
soldier, statesman, jurist (1896), 



INDEX TO BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



213 



167: original documents relating 
to the life and administrations of 
Gov. Wm. Burnet (1897), 107: fifty 
years of historical work in New 
Jersey, 159 

"Neversink." derivation of the name— 
Asher Taylor, 155 

Newark Academy, early days of— Wm. 
Nelson. 158, 166 

Newark, Records of the town of. 160: Bi- 
centennial celebration of the set- 
tlement of 100, 163 

New Brunswick. First Presbyterian 
church in. historical sketch of — 
Rev. Robert Davidson, D. D.. 162 

New Jersey a "foreign country," why 
so called, 150 

New Jersey Assembly. Members of, in 
1754— William Nelson. 107 

New Jersey colonial history, discourse— 
Charies King. 153 

New Jersey Historical Society, its ori- 
gin, and officers. 1845-1885, report 
on, 158: sketches of — Alonzo 
Church, 167 

New Jersey in 1786, notes on— John 
Rutherfurd. 156 

New Jersey officers in the Revolution. 
155 

Newspapers. American, History of. Ala- 
bama-New Hampshire -William 
Nelson. 101-10?: extracts from, re- 
lating to New Jersey. 101-16? 

New York and New Jersey under the 
joint governors- -Cadwallader Col- 
den, 155 

Northampton, census of in 1709. 154 

Northern boundary line (of New Jersey), 
circumstances leading to the es- 
tablishment of, in 1709— Wm. A. 
Whitehead. 155. 163 

Northmen, discovery of America by— C. 
C. Rafn. 160 

Notes, Queries and Replies— 158. 151 

Ocean county, geographical names in— 
Edwin Salter, 156 

Ogden. Col. Aaron— Autobiography of, 
158. 159 

Ogden, Robert, letter to, from Richard 
Stockton. 1705, 153 

Old Tappan. the massacre near— Wm. 
S. Stryker. 154 

OldTennent (church), Historic— Rev. K. 
C. Hallock. 158 

Orange, the first minister of— Dr. Ste- 
phen Wickes, 158 

Paper "money." project for in 1710. 155 

Paterson, the founding of. as the intend- 
ed manufacturing metropolis of 
the United States— Wm. Nelson, 

158. 165 

" Pavonia," origin of the name -S. Alof- 
sen. 155 

Penn's Neck, Swedish mission in, 154 

Pennsylvania insurrection of 1794— 
James Carnahan, D. D., 151 

Perth Towne, 1683, Proprietors order re- 
specting. 155 

Pierson, Mrs. EmelineG. Somerecords 
of the French in Elizabethtown, 

159. 167 

Pinhorne, William, project of, to raise 
money by paper bills, in 1710. 155 

Post-office, colonial, Benjamin Frank- 
lin's administration of, 155 



Pottery, the first in New Jersey, 1685, 
158 

Pownall, Lieut. Gov. Thomas, adminis- 
trat ion of. 101 

Princeton and Trenton, battles of— 
Charles C. Eaven, 155 

Provincial Courts oi Ww Jersey Rich- 
ard S. Field. 159 

Provincial line, between Fast and West 
Jersey. 153 

Raccoon, Swedish mission in. 154 

Reading, President John, administra- 
tion of. 161 

Religion in Hasi and West Jersey, -— t = • t . - 
of, in 1700, 151 

Revolution: — 
Journal of Abel Thomas, in the South- 
ern States. [781, 153: capture and 
death of refugee. John Bacon. 151; 
proceedings of committees of Free- 
hold and Shrewsbury. 153; Sulli- 
van's ex] lition, 1779, 153, 150, 104: 

events in Charleston, 1780, 153; ex- 
pedition to Canada, 1776, 153; Bat- 
tle of Monmouth. 151: suspension 
of hostilities in 17S3. 15): letter of 
Gen. Steuben to officers of the 
New Jersey line, 1783 154; Gens. 
Schuyler and Sullivan to Col. Day- 
ton, 1776, 154; selections from cor- 
respondence of Maj. Gen. Stirling, 
l.V.'-lM: letter from Robert Morris, 
1781, 151: march of the British 
through New Jersey in 1778. 154: 
diary of Joseph Clark. 177S-1779, 
155: New Jersey officers. 155: bat- 
tles of Trenton and Princeton. 
155: Col. MawhOOd to the Salem 

militia. 1778. 155: journal of Lieut. 
Isaac Bangs, 1770. 155: Gen. Wm. 
"Winds. 155. 162; objections of New 
Jersey to the articles of Confeder- 
ation, 1778. 155: regimental returns, 
1770-1777, 150: letter from Gen. N. 
Greene, 1779, 156; letter from 
Washington to B. Franklin. L780, 
150: flagof " Le Bon Homme Rich- 
ard," 156: memento of Major An- 
dre. 150: ('apt. William Colfax. 157: 
Gen. Anthony Walton White. 157: 
Hibernia furnace and vicinity in 
the Revolution. 157: (leu. Win. 
Irvine, 157: strategic relations of 
of New Jersey, 157, 165; Miss Jen- 
nie McCrea, 158: our French allies, 
150: Col. Aaron Ogden. 158; Hes- 
sians in New Jersey, I5s. 166; un- 
published Revolutionary maun 
scripts. i5s. i5!i : (Jen. Wm. Max- 
well, 159, 107: life of Ceu. Stirling, 
159; Gen. Wm. Winds. 162; Massa- 
cre near Chi Tappan, 101: capture 
of Block House at Toms River, 
if,5: Gen, Wm. Maxwells expedi- 
tions against the Indians, in 1779, 
105 

Eicord, Frederick W. Abraham Coles, 
a character sketch, 158; (edi- 
tor) Arcbii es of Ne^ Jersey, 101. 
in-.' 

Ringwood, tombstone inscriptions at, 

150 
Robbery of the treasury of Fasl Jersey, 

1768 Wm. A. Whitehead, 154, 10-.' 
Rutherfurd. John, letter from Richard 



214 



INDEX TO BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



Stockton to. 1798, 156 

Rutherfurd Manuscripts, 156 

Salem county, exports in 1845, 153: Maj. 
John Fenwick's settlement of, 153; 
clerks, sheriffs, surrogates and at- 
torneys of, 154; proposals of Col. 
Mawhood. to militia of, in 1778, 155 

Scandinavian settlements in New Jer- 
sey, 155 

Schuyler, Col. Peter, officers of his regi- 
ment 1759, 156 

Schuyler, Gen. Philip, orders to Col. 
Jonathan Dayton. 1776, 154 

Scot, George, of Pitlocbie— The model 
of the government of East New- 
Jersey, in America, 1685. 159 

Scott, Austin— The early cities of New 
Jersey. 158; A highway of the Na- 
tion, 159 

Seacoast of New Jersey, early settlers 
on— Rev. Allen H. Brown, 157 

Second River, the Reformed Dutch 
Church of. contributions to the 
early history of —Rev. Aaron Llovd, 
15S ' 

Shrewsbury committee, proceedings on 
opening of the Revolution. 153 

Smith. Samuel — extracts from MSS. of, 
155 

South Jersey, fifty years of progress in— 
Rev. Allen H. Brown, 157 

Staten Island and the New Jersey bound- 
ary. 156 

Steamboat controversy between New 
York and Jersey, 1811-1824— John 
D. Ward, 155 

Steam engine, the first in America, etc. 
— Wm. Nelson, 157, 165 

Strategic relations of New Jersey to the 
War of American independence — 
Gen. Henry B. Carrington, 157 

Stryker, William S.— Memoir of Col. 
Philip Johnson. 157: the Massacre 
near Old Tappan, 164; the Old Bar- 
racks at Trenton, 164: Capture of 
the Block House at Toms River, 
March 24, 1782, 165; General Max- 
well's brigade of the New Jersey 
Continental Line in the expedition 
against the Indians in 177;). 165 

Sullivan, Gen. John, orders to Col. Jona- 
than Dayton. 1776, 154 

Sullivan's expedition against the Indi- 
ans, in 1779, 153; journals of. 156, 
164 

Supreme Court of New Jersey, extracts 
from minutes of. in 1765, 155 

Sussex county, Moravian settlement in 
— Dr. Henry Race, 158 

Swedish mission in Raccoon and Penn's 
Neck. 154 

Taxes and money in New Jersey before 
the Revolution — R. Wayne Parker, 



157 

Taylor, Asher— derivation of name 
'• Neversink,"' 155 

Tennent, Rev. Wm., review of trial of 
for perjury—Richard S. Field, 154 

Ticonderoga, description of battle of, 
letter from Rev. Samuel Hopkins. 
155 

Tobacco box. ancient brass, description 
of — S. Alofsen. 155 

Toms River, capture of the Block House 
at — Wm. S. Stryker. 155 

Trenton. Old Fort Block House at— 
—Charles Megill. 156 

Trenton the old barracks at — Wm. S. 
Stryker, 164 

Trenton and Princeton, battles of— 
Charles C. Haven. 155 

Trinity church. Newark, extracts from 
records of, 158 

Ward, John D. — Steamboat controversy 
between New York and New Jer- 
sey 1811-1824. 155 

Ward. Dr. Thomas— Lyrical poem, at 
the bi-centennial of Newark, 160 

Warren county, Ohio, the New Jersey 
church of— A. D. Schenck, 156 

Whiskey insurrection in Western Penn- 
sylvania, in 1794: journal of Maj. 
Wm. Gould, 154; paper by Rev. 
James Carnahan. D. D., 154; jour- 
nal of Capt. David Ford. 155, 163 

Whitehead, William A. — biographical 
sketch of Gov. Wm. Franklin, 152: 
robbery of the treasury of East 
Jersey in 176s. 154: appointment of 
Nathaniel Jones as chief justice in 
1759. 155: female suffrage in New 
Jersey. 155; Northern boundary 
line of 1769. 155; papers on the 
eastern boundary of New Jersey, 
155: review of some of the circum- 
stances connected with the settle- 
ment of Elizabeth, 156; resting 
place of the remains of Columbus, 
157: East Jersey under the Propri- 
tary Government, 159; Papers of 
Lewis Morris, etc , 159-60: Analyt- 
ical Index to N. J. colonial docu- 
ments. 160; historical memoir of 
the circumstances connected with 
the settlement of Newark, May., 
1666. 160; Archives of the State of 
New Jersey, 160-61. Sketch of the 
life and character of, by Rev. S. I. 
Prime, 157 

Wickes, Stephen— The first minister of 
Orange, 1718, 158. Memoir of, by 
Joseph Parrish. M. D.. 158 

Wilkes. John, trial of, 154 

Woodbridge, grant from Berkley and 
Carteret to, 1672 156 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Note.— This Index does not include the Bibliography of the Society, on 
pages 153-167; nor the lists of persons sending acceptances and regrets, on pp. 6-9. 



Abbett. Leon. 147 

'•Aborigines of New Jersey, the"— 
Archer Gifford. 71 

Abstract of title to the Society's West 
Park street lot. 138 

Achcjuechenonk. freeholders of. 1755. 31 

Acrelius. Israel — History of New 
Sweden. 21 

Adams. John Quincv, 198 
Maj. H. W.. 148 
Samuel 197 

Addresses and Papers by 
Harrison. Benjamin, 177 
Nelson. William, 15 
Scott, Austin. Ph. D., 169 
Wilson. Woodrow, Ph. D.. LL.D., 181 

Adrain Robert. 145 

Agg, Elizabeth G.. 140 
John. 140 

Aikman. Rev. Robert. 149 

Alabama-Maryland, history of news- 
papers in, 122 

Albany. N. Y., 70 

Albion Knights. 25 

Alexander, Catharine, 35 
James. 35, 47 
William. 17 

Allinson, Samuel. 7(5 

Alofsen, Solomon. 14. 63, 64, 97. 137 

American Bible Society. 72 

American history, the course of — 
Woodrow Wilson, 159 

American Newspapers 1704-1800, His 
tory of —by Wm. Nelson, 122 

Amherst. Mass , 70 

Amwell, 65 

Analytical Index to Colonial Docu- 
ments. 114, 116, 119: subscriptions 
for. 113 

Anderson. Dr. Calvin, 150 
Edward J.. 144 

Andrus. Isaac, portrait of, 137 

"Annals of the Swedes on the Dela- 
ware." 21 

Anne, Queen, 18 

Annual Law Register of the United 
States. Vol. IV.. 20 

Apprentices' library, Trenton. 66 

Appropriations by the Legislature. 114, 
119, 121. 122 

Armstrong, Edward. 21 

Atlantic ocean, firsl steamboat to cross, 
196 

Baker. Jeremiah. 149 
Philip P.. 145 
28 



Baldwin, Albert. 149 
Caleb, 141 
HenrvR.. 126 
Lucius D.. 95. 96 
Caleb. 138. 139 
Bale. Andrew J.. 145 
Hall. Samuel. 139 
Ballantine. John H.. 130, 151. 152 

Robert F.. 12.14. 127. 130. 148. 151. 152 
Balynaskea. Ireland. 70 
Bancroft's History of the United States. 

22 
Barber and Howe's "Historical Collec- 
tions." 25. 72 
Barber, John W.. 25 
Barnert. Nathan, 148 
Barron. Thomas, portrait of. 137 
Baty, Jael, 37 
Bayard, Col. John. 74 

Jane. 74 
Beasley. Mercer, 144 
Beaudinot— see Boudinot 
Beckwith. Charles D.. 145 
Bedle. Joseph D.. 147 
Belcher, Governor, papers of. 81. 135 
Belleville, 68, 97; copper mines at. in 

see Second River 
Bergen, Christopher A.. 145 
Berkley and Carteret, Grants and Con- 
cessions of. 44 
Berry, Major John. 42 
Bettie, Edward, 147 

Bibliography of New Jersey history, 117: 
of laws and legislative journals. 
115; of the Society. 153-167 
Bi-Centennial Celebration of Newark'. 

67 
Bigelow. Moses. 145 

Samuel P.. 14 
Binding Fund, 87, 91 
Bingham, Rudolphus. i ¥i 
Biographic \ t , Sketch es : 
Alofsen. Solomon. 63 
Bradley. Joseph P., 57 
Clement. John. 40 
Condit. Dr. John S., 59 
Congar, Samuel Hayes, 66 
Cooley. Rev. Eli Field. 72 
Dayton, William Lewis, t; 
Dennis, Martin R.. 67 
Doane, Rt. Rev. I leorge W., 73 
Duer. William Alexander. 16 
Duryee. Peter S.. 49 
Field. Richard S., 34 
Gifford. Archer, 71 
Gordon. Thomas. 65 



2l6 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Green, Henry W.. 37 

Haines. Daniel. 75 

Hamill. Rev. Dr. Samuel M.. 39 

Hasbrouck. Abraham Bruyn, 72 

Hayes. David Abbott. 61 

Hornblower. Joseph Coerten. 32 

Johnson. Richard Gibbon. 44 

King-, James Gore. 46 

Kinney. William Burnet. 48 

Kirkpatriek, Littleton. 74 

Maclean. Rev. Dr. John. 74 

McLean. Rev. Dr. Daniel V.. 69 

Murray. Rev. Dr. Nicholas. 24, 71 

Nixon. John T.. 50 

Ogden. Elias Bailey Dayton. 73 

Parker. James, 33 

Paterson, Rev. Dr. Andrew Bell. 75 

Pennington, Dr. Samuel Hayes. 42 

Potts. Stacy Gardiner. 46 

Ricord. Frederick William. 68 

Rodgers. Rev. Dr. Ravaud Kearny, 

36 
Ross, James. 63 
Rutherfurd. John. 35 
Stryker. Thomas J.. 62 
Swords. Robert Smith. 6t 
Vroom. Peter D.. 45 
Whitehead. William Adee. -.'4 51 
Wickes. Dr. Stephen. 55 
Biorck. Tobias E.. 21 
Bird. E. K.. 149 
Bird. John T.. 144 
Bishop. Rev. Dr. Geo. S.. 148 

James. 144 
Blackford, Edward. 139. 141: Francis G.. 
lto. ill: George D.. 140: Hannah. 
139. 140. 141: William B.. 140 
Blair. John I.. 14. 127, 128, 130. 148. 151. 152 
Blodgett. Rufus. 145 
Bloomneld. Gen. Joseph. 44 
Bogert, John W.. 145 
Boggs, Lieut. Charles S., 106 
Bolles. Enoch. 141. 142. 143 

Ephraim. 142. 143 
Bonaparte. Napoleon. 138 

bust of Princess Pauline. 82. 138 
Bordentown, 138 
Boudinot. Annis. 34 
Elias. 34 
Elisha. 34 
Boundaries between East and West Jer- 
sey. 136; between New York and 
New Jersey. 136 
Bowne. Hugh H., 76 
Boyer. Henry K.. 150 
Bradbury. James W.. 5 
Bradford (England) Historical Society. 

152 
Bradley. Charles. 11. 12. 14. 98. 99. 100. 131 
Joseph P.. 13. 23. 30. 31. 46. 47: mem- 
ber of the Electoral Commission 
of 1877. 174 
Braintree (Mass.) Historical Society. 

152 
Bridgman, A. L.. 149 
Briggs. Frank O., 151, 152 
Brodhead. John Romevn. 28 
Brooks. Noah. 148 
Brown. Rev. Allen H.. 14 
Hendrick H., 144 
Richard. 145 
Bruen, Sarah. 66 
Bruere, J. Hart, 149 

Joseph H., 149 
Buchanan. James. 145 



Buckingham. Rev. Jedidiah. 57 
Building Fund. 101 
Bundy. J. M.. 119 
Burlington. 18. 20. 24. llll 
Burnet. Dan. 48 

Dr James B.. 151. 152 

Dr. William. 48 
Burr, Aaron, 61; portrait of, 82. 137 
Burrough, Edward, 144 
Bush, George Clinton, 31 
Butler. Rev. Edwin E.. 149 
Butterworth. Rev. John H.. 149 
Buttz. Rev. Henry A.. 149 

Cafferty. artist, 137 

Caldwell. Rev. James. Memoir of. 71 

Calendars of N. Y. Historical Manu- 
scripts. 29 

Cameron, Henry C, 148 

Cannon. Henry R.. M D . 151. 152 

Canova's bust of Princess Pauline. 82, 
138 

Carlisle Presbytery. 69 

Carman. Ezra A., 189 

Carpenter. John. Jr . 145 

Cartel-. William II . 145 

Census statistics, extension of. 126 

Centennial celebrations in New Jersey, 
in 1&76, ]•">; 

Centennial Celebration of 1889, 126 

Centennial Medal ordered struck. 129: as 
a school prize. 129: cost of dies, by 
whom defrayed. 130. 151: by whom 
designed. 130: copy in gold for ex- 
President Harrison. 131 : silver for 
ex-Governor Green. 131; Medal 
fund. 131; cost of. 150: dimensions 
of, 150; proceeds of sales of. 151 : 
subscribers to. 151; motto on. 150 

Chalmers. George, his •'Political An- 
nals.'' lit 
Thomas S.. 145 

Chapman. E. O.. 144 

Cheeseman. Reuben. 145 

Cherry Valley. N. Y.. 72 

Chetwood. John J.. 79 

Chew, Sinnickson. 149 
■ City of Hudson." by whom chartered. 
'126, 127 

Clark. Daniel T.. 91 
William. 14. 148 

Clay. Henry. 199: portrait of. 137 
Rev. Jehu Curtis. 21 

Clement. Gregory. 40 

John. 13. 21. 40. 41. 42. 127. 130. 144 
Nathaniel. 40 

Cleveland. President Grover, 77 
J. B.. 148 

Cloke, William. 149 

ClUSS, Allan. 137 

Coe. Benjamin. 51 

Ernest E.. 11. 12. 13. 14. 99. 100. 148 
Robert. 51 
Theodore, 13, 14, 100 

Cogswell, Rev. Jonathan, 31 

Cole. Eugene C. 145 
Martin. 144 

Collections of the N. J. Historical Socie- 
ty, 115; account of publication of. 
105 

College of New Jersey. History of. 74 

Collin, Rev. Nicholas. D. D.. 21 

Colonial and Revolutionary Documents. 
Committee on. 113. 115. 123, 124: re- 
port of, 12 



GENERAL INDEX. 



;i 7 



Colonial Dames. 77 

Colonial Documents, index to. 116: Fund. 
114 

"Columbus, the bones of." 65 

Condict. Dr. Lewis, 121 

Condit. Dr. John Smith. 13, 59. 61). 61 
Silas. 60 

Conditt, John. 59 

Confederate currency. 137 

Congar, Samuel Hayes. 13, 14,63, 66, 91, 
KI7; genealogical notes of first set- 
tlers of Newark, by, 109 

Conger, John. 06 

Connelly. James F.. 147 

Constitutions of New Jersey. 1683, 135 

Cook. George H.. 144 

Cooley. Rev. Eli Field. 26, 30, 31, 72 

Cornish. P. H.. 147 

Coult, Joseph. 148 

Council of Safety. Minutes of. 117 

County Historical Societies, reports 
from. 12 

Coursen. Hon. Mr.. 149 

Courts of New Jersey, origin of. 20 

Coxe. Dr. Daniel. 136 

Cranmer, George T., 145 

Crooks, Rev. G. R.. 149 

Crowell. Edward, portrait of. 137 

Cumming, the Rev. Hooper, portrait of. 
137 

Cutter, Ephraim, 145 

Daniels. Prof. Winthrop Hoar. 5 

Darcy, Henry G., 97, 108 

Darling, Gen. Charles W.. 5 

Darou. William H.. 146 

Daughters of the American Revolution. 

77 
Davidson, Rev. Robert, D. D., 106 
Davis. George C. 145 
Day, Matthias W., 97. 138; portrait of, 

137 
Dayton, Gen. Eli as, manuscripts of, 135 

Col. Jonathan, 47 

William L.. 47, 48, 58, 77, 116 
DeHart. Harry V., 5 
De Ronde. Abram. 145 
Deats. Hiram E., 151. 152 
Delaware, Dutch and Swedes on the, 29 
Delaware River, early settlements on, 

20. 29 
Dennis. Alfred L., 68 

Ezekiel. 67 

Martin R.. 13, 67, 110 

Mary Baldwin, 67 
Depue. David A., 11. 14. 77. 127, 144 
DeWitt, Simeon, 174 
Dexter. Lady Barney. 37 
Dickerson, Mahlon. 96 
Dixon, Jonathan. 144 
Doan, Jonathan. 7:! 
Doane. Rt. Rev. George Washington. D. 

D., 73. 79. 113 
Dobbins. E. L.. 149 
Dod. Rev. Stephen, 136 
Dodd. Mary, 59 

Donations of special interest. 136 
Donnellv. Peter T.. 145 
Douglass, Edward M.. l (9 
Drake, J. Madison. 148 
Drummond. Robert, portrait of, 137 
Dryden. John F.. 11 
Dryden Hall. Newark, 86 
Duer. William. 47 

William Alexander, 16, 103, 105, 106 



Duponceau, Peter S., 20 
Durning, Jane T.. 139 
Duryee, Edward H. 50 

Peter S., 49, 89, 95. 96, 97, 10S. 113, 111 
Durie, Joost. 49 
Dutch settlements. -.'7 
Dutch West India Company, 28 

Edwards. William D.. 145 
Elizabeth. Eliiabethtown, 22, 23. 70. 71 
72, ;:■!. 75. s<7. 126, 127; laws an. I or- 
dinances of , 135; Murray's History 
of. 23. 70; Bill in Chancery, 23 
First Presbyterian Church of, 70 
Elmer. Dr. Ebenezer. Journal of, 135 

Judge L. Q. ('.. is. 50, 109, 110 
Ely. Calista. 143 

Edwin A., 151, 15:.' 
Matthias, 97 
Matthew, 143 
English Public Record Office, 113, 114, 

117, 118 
Erskine, Robert, papers of. 81. 136 
Essex county court house, 07: public 

records. 1 17 
Everitt Moses K.. 145 
Ewing. Chief Justice James. 36, 44 
Executive Committee, list of. 14; report 

of. 12; some members of the. 69 
Extracts from American Newspapers, 
relating to New Jersey, 122 

Fagan, Lawrence. 146 

Farrand, Dr. Samuel A., 151, 152 

Farrell, Edward P., 146 

Fayette county. Pa., 69 

Feenev, John P.. 140 

Fell, Lawrence T.. 144 

Fenwick, John. 24, 45, 135: papers of, 81, 

135 
FenwickVs Colony, 24 
Ferris, Benjamin— History of Delaware, 

21 
Field. Richard Stockton. 13, 21, 34. 35. 30, 

77. 95.96, 100, 112. 114 
Robert, 34 
"Fifty Years of Historical Work in 

New Jersey," address by William 

Nelson. 13. 17 
Flynn. John P., 147 
Foster, John Y., 148 
Fowler, Samuel, 1 15 
Francois. Judson C. 140 
Freehold, founding of Presbyterian 

church at, 69 
Frelinghuysen, Frederick T., 97. 175 

Theodore. 137 
Fremont. Gen. John C, 48 
Friends, English, Wesi Jersey sett led 

by. 19 
Fulton. Robert, papers and drawings of , 

82, 135 

( rardner, John J.. 145 
( tarrison. ( Jharles < ;.. 144 
Geissenhainer, Jacob A., 1 15 
Genealogy. Committei report of, 12 

of Early Settlers in Trenton and 
Swing, 72 
Geneva < 'olleg.\ (is 
( Hbbon, Mary, n 

Nicholas. II 
Gibbons vs. Ogden. 171 
Gifford. Archer, 31, 139; writings of. 71 

Capt. John, 71 



2l8 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Gill, John. 146 

Glazebrook, Rev. Otis G.. 110 
'• Glimpses of the Past." article in New- 
ark Daily Advertiser. 24 
Gloucester. Old. Reminiscences of, 26 
Goble, Jonathan. 146 

L. Spencer. 12. 14. 99. 151 

Lather. 140 
Godkin. E. L.. 149 
Gordon. Franklin, 65 

Othneil. 65 

Thomas, 31, 65 

Thomas F.. "History of New Jer- 
sey." 21, 26 
Grahame, James, history by, 19 
Grannis, Robert A.. 149 
Grants and Concessions of hrst English 

Lords Proprietors. 18 
Green. Caleb Smith. 38 

George. M7 

Chief Justice and Chancellor Henry 
Woodhull, 13. 31, 37. 38, 46, 77, 83, 95 

John Cleve. 38 

Robert S.. Governor and Vice Chan- 
cellor. 127. 128. 129. 144. 150 

Roberts., Jr., 144 

William. 37 
Greene, General, 150 
Gregory. Dudley S., 75. 96 
Grier. Mayor. 148 
Griffin. Rev. Dr. Edward Dorr, portrait 

of, 82 
Griffith. William. 20 
Griggs, Governor John W.. 115 
Grover, Mary. 44 
Grubb, Edward Burd, 147 

Hackensack. 71 
Hagar, George J.. 14 
Eageman, JohnF., 76. 127. 128, 148 
Haines. Governor Daniel. 29, 30. 75, 77. 
118. 119. 123; portrait of. 82. 137 
Elias. 75 
Henry S.. 115 
Richard T.. 97 
Hall. Edward J.. Jr., 149 
John, D. D.. 76. 149 
Joseph D.. 144 
Halsey. Edmund D.. member of Com 
mittee on Publications. 11: sub- 
scriber to Centennial Medal. 151, 
152: Committee on Colonial Docu- 
ments. 14. 124; guarantees a build- 
ing for the Society at Morristown, 
98 
George A.. 77. 127. 128, 145 
Halstead. George G., 148 
Halsted, Caleb O., 97 
Gen. N. Norris. 76 
Hamburg. Sussex county, 75 
Hamill, Robert. 39 

Samuel M..D. D.. 13. 39, 40. 127. 129. 
147. 152 
Hamilton. Gov. Andrew, letter to, 153 
Col. Morris R.. 144 
Samuel R.. 31 
Hansell. Albert, 146 
Hardin. John R.. 100 
Harrington, ("has F., 146 
Harris. Edward, 31 

John, 146 
Harrison, Benjamin. 127. 131. 152: Cen- 
tennial Medal presented to. 13, 171 ; 
address of, 177 



Hasbrouck, Abraham Bruvn, LL.D.. 72 

Hatfield, Rev. Dr. E. F.— History of 
Elizabeth. 70 

Hatfield. Miss. 139 

Haven. Charles C. 76 

Hayes. David Abbott. 13, 97. 107. 108; bio- 
graphical sketch of. 61 
Hannah. 6K 
Howard W., 148 
Major Samuel. 66 
Thomas, 61 

Haynes. Joseph E.. 148 

Hays. James L., 115 

I Lazard, Samuel. 21 

Hedden, Alvan. 141. 142 
Elizabeth. 141 

Hedge. Samuel Fenwick, 44 

Henry. Patrick, 197 

Prof. Joseph, of Princeton College, 
first telegraph invented by. 10 

Heppenheimer. Wm. C, 146 

Herbert, Chas. B.. 146 

Herrick, C. M , 148 

Hettield. Mrs. Mary. 141 

Hewitt, Abram S.. 130. 151, 152 

Higgins. Archibald A.. 146 
Geo. H., 146 

Highway, a. of the Nation— Austin 
Scott. President of Rutgers Col- 
lege. 159. 169-176 

Hillyer. Rev. Dr. E. T.. 136 

Historical work in New Jersey, fifty 
years of -William Nelson. 15 167 

Hobart, Garret A.. 77. 14S. 151 

Hobdys. George. 139 

Hoboken. first locomotive and first 
steamboat built at. 10 

Holden. Captain Levi. 137 

Holm. Thomas Campanius, 20 

Holt, John I.. 146 

Hoover. Eliphalet, 146 

Hopewell. 7s 

Hopper. John. 128. 148 

Hornblower. Chief Justice Joseph C. 10, 
13. 32, 33. 48. 58. 59. 67; portrait of. 
138 
Josiah, 32, 58 ; first steam engine in 
America erected by. 10 

Houdon. Jean Antoine. statue of Wash- 
ington by. 130 

Howe. Henry. 25 

Howell. .James E., 100 

Hude. James. 37 

Hudson county, 97 

Hudson. Henry, supposed portrait of. 
138 
Shepperd S., 146 

Hudspeth. Robert S.. 146 

Hughes. Wm M.. 148 

Hunt. E. M., 144 
Samuel H.. 137 
Wm. M.. 148 

Hunterdon county. 65; Historical Soci- 
ety. 125 

Hutchings. Rev. Samuel. 67 

Hutchinson, John P., 151, 152 

Indian feather ornaments from Amazon 

river. 137 
Indians of New Jersey, 28 

Jackson, Andrew. 71, 198 
F. Wolcott, 11, 12, 14 
John P.. 75, 95 



GENERAL INDEX. 



219 



Jackson. John P.. Jr.. 69 
James. Josiah, 140 
Jefferson, Thomas. 178. 174 
Jennings, J.Frank. 147 
Johnson. Alexander N.. 148 
Richard. 44 
Col. Kobert Gibbons— history of 

Salem. 44. 45 
William M.. 131 
Johnston. William Nelson. 149 
Journal of the Governor and Council of 

New Jersey I68i-1703, manuscript 

of. discovered and ordered printed. 

117 
Joy. Edmund L., 135: portrait of, 138 

Kalisch, Leonard. 146 

Kane. Daniel M.. 146 
Kearny. Michael. 37 

Susannah Kavaud. 37 
Keasbev. Anthony Q., 35, 51 
Kelsey. Henry C. 126, 144 
Kennedy. John. 97 
Keys. James. 146 
King, Charles 95. 102, 113 

James Gore. 46. 95. 96, 97. 105. 113. 114 

Hufus. 46 
Kingston, 72 

Pa.. 70 

N. Y., 73 
Kinney. Abraham. 48 

Sir Thomas. 48 

Thomas T.. 148 

William Bui net. 31, 48, 19. 60, 79; ora- 
tion at bi-centennial of Newark. 
109 
Kirkpatrick, Alexander. 74 

Andrew, 74 

David. 74 

Littleton. 74 
Klotz. Jacob. 146 
Knapp. Manning M.. Ill 
Knickerbocker, Diedrich, 24 

Laird. John H.. 147 

Lawrence. Capt. James, portrait of. 82. 
136: uniform and chapeau of. 137 

Laws prior to 180 1. bibliography of. 115 

Learning. Aaron. 18 
Walter S.. 145 

Leaycraft. Richard. 139 

Lebanon. Ohio, 09 

Lee. Benjamin F.. 144 

Francis Bazley. 121. 131 

Legislature, appropriations by, 114.119. 
121. 12;; memorial to. in 1846, Hi: 
memorial to. in 1S50. 114: Journals 
of. bibliography of. 115: first rail- 
road charter granted by. 10 

Lehlbach, Herman. 115 

Levis. Franklin B.. 151. 152 

Lewis. William, is 

Librarian, reports of, 12 

Librarians, list of. 13 

Library of the Society. Committee on. 
14: tirst appointment of. 69; re- 
ports of, 12. 93 

Library, growth and management of. 
86; statistics concerning growth 
of. 94 : location of. 82 

Library Fund. 87, 92, 101, 133 

Library Hall. 85 

Lincoln. Abraham. 34. 18. 201-204 

Lindsley Manuscripts. 136 

Little Falls. Ill 

29 



. 87: 



I'st 

125: 
: in 



Livingston. William, Governor, 61 

papers of. 136 
Lloyd. Aaron. 14. I is 
Local Historical Societies. 12): sugjj 

ed, i2t: adverse reporl on. 

project for revived in 1886 US 

1897. 12li 
Local history, importance of. 186 
Locomotive, introduction and iuven 

of. 10 
Long Island. 29 
Lowenthal. Henry. 1 19 
Ludlow. George C., 147 
Lum. F. H. 119 
Lundy, F. L.. 117 



.Muclean. Rev. John. 74. 113 

McAdoo. William, 145 

McBride. Charles C, lis 

Mil lormick, John. 145 

McDermitt. Frank M.. 146 

McDermott, Allan L.. 144 

McDowell, the Rev. John, portrait of. 

138 
McEowen, Mary. 74 
McGill. Alexander T.. 77. Ill 
McGowan. Thomas. 146 
Mci Iregor, John. 144 
McLean. Rev. Daniel Veach, 31, 69. 79. 83. 

113 
McNaughton. Rev. John, 150 
McPherson. John R., 145 
Macwhorter, Rev Dr. Alexander, his 

study chair. 137: portrait of. 82 
Magie, William J.. 77, 111 
Mallon. John, 145 
Manhattan Island. 28 
Mann. Charles M.. 147 
Marcellus. Rev. Aaron A., 31 
March. Samuel, 138 

Sarah. 138 
Marlboro, 111 

Marriage Bonds, index to. 122 
Marsh, Fred'k C. 146 
Marsh, W. w.. 149 
Marshall. John. 174 
Martin. Augustus F. R.. 145 

Wm. H. 146 
Maryland records, extracts from relative 

to Dutch control o\er New Sweden. 

20 
Massachusetts Historic ;il Society. IH."> 

Massachusetts Newspapers, history of, 
122 

Mat a wan. 72 
Matthews. John J.. 147 
Manuscript Collections in the So- 
ciety's Liukaky: 

Alexander. James, 135 

Belcher. Gov. Jonathan. 135 

Boundary Papers, 136 

Coxe, Dr. Daniel. 136 

Da.\ ton. Gen. Elias. 135 

Elmer. Dr. Ebenezer, 135 

Erskine, Kobert 136 

Fenwick. John. 135 

Fulton Robert, 136 

Henderson. Thomas. (Life of Win. 
Tennenl >. 135 

Lindsley family, 136 

Livingston. 1 k>V. William. 136 

Morris. Lewis, 135 

Robert Hunter. 135 

Paris. Ferdinand John. 135 

Penn, William, 135 



220 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Provincial Congress. 135, 136 
Rutherfurd family, 135, 136 
Salter. Edwin, 136 

Smith. Samuel. (History of New Jer- 
sey), 135 
William Peartree. 135 
Spicer, Col. Jacob. 135 
Stirling. William Alexander, Earl of. 

135 
Tuttle. Rev. Dr. J. F., 136 
Vail, Alfred, 136 
Whitehead. Wm. A, 136 
Medal Fund. 131 

Medals. Committee on. 11: report of, 12 
Meeker, Carnot B., 146 

Isaac. 11-2. 143 
Meeker. Jane M., 142 
Mercer county, 72 
Merchant. Silas. 108 
Merritt, Rev. Dr., 148 
Mickle. Isaac. 36. 79, 113 
Middlesex County Historical Society, 

125 
Middletown (Monmouth Co.)Town Book, 

109 
Milev. Rev. John. 149 
Miller, William B. E.. 147 

James L.. 145 
Mills. Alfred. 148 
Mine Brook. 74 
Minnesota-New Hampshire, history of 

newspapers in, 122 
Monmouth Democrat. 109 
Morris. Betsey, 142 
Helena. 35 
John, 142. 143 

Governor Lewis, 35, 36, 37; letter- 
book of , 106; papers of. 81, 107. 135 
Redroe. 37 
Robert Hunter, papers of, 81, 107, 

135 
Sabina. 36 
Samuel. 142 
Sarah, 37 
Staats S., 108 
Thomas. 142 
Morris Canal and Banking Company. 145 
Morris county. Revolutionary history of. 

136 
Morris Plains, 14 
Morristown, 10. 98 
Mott, Rev. George S., D. D., 11, 14, 127, 

148 
Mount Ployden, 25 

Murphy, Franklin, 14. 127: chairman 
Special Committee on Anniversa 
ry, 11 
JohnL.. 148 
Murray. Isabella, 139 
James. 138. 141. 142 
Rev. Dr. Nicholas, 22. 23. 24. 31. 84, 
87. 101. 114, 115, 137: memoir of. 70; 
portrait of, S2, 138 
William. 139. 140 
Murry. James. 139 
Mutchler, Samuel B., 146 

N. Y. Historical Society's Collections, 

19 
Naughright, Wm. S., 146 
Naval Parade, at New York, 1889, 128 
Neilson, James. 14 
Neill. Rev. Edward D.. 25 
Nelson, Charles H. A., 150 
James. 150 



Nelson. Rev. Dr. T. A., 149 
Thomas, 149 

William. 11. 12. 13. 14. 33, 99. 115, 123, 
124. 126. 127, 128 130, 131, 148, 151, 152. 
153; address at semi-centennial 
celebration, 13, 15-167: history of 
American newspapers, 122 

Nevius. Henry M., 145 

New Albion 24, 25 

New Amsterdam, 28 

New Brunswick. 10, 74, 83. 106 

New England Historic Genealogical So- 
ciety. 5 

New Jersey Archives. 120: editors of. 120 
title of. 120; issue of Vol. I., 120 
account of publication of, 112 
first appropriation for, 118; addi- 
tional appropriations for. 119; how 
distributed. 122: how the way was 
prepared for. 117; Revolutionary 
series. 122 

New Jersey, origin of Courts of, 20 

New Jersey Historical Society, abstract 
of title to lot in West Park street. 
Newark. 138; in the Centennial 
Naval Parade, 144; list of invited 
guests on the. 144: proceedings, 21; 
history of. 18 

New Jersey Newspapers in the Eigh- 
teenth Century— William Nelson, 
137 

New Jersey in the Annapolis Conven- 
tion. 172; in the Federal Conven- 
tion. 173 

New Library Building. Committee on, 
14; report of. 12 

New Netherland, 24 

New Sweden. Dutch control over, 20; 
history of. 21 

New York Colonial Documents, 21, 29; 
Documentary History of. 29 

New York Historical Society. 28. 106; 
Collections of. 20 

Newark. 10, 11, 14, 66. 68. 71. 82. 92. 93. 95, 
96,97, 98, 100, 108. Ill; Courthouse. 
84; two hundredth anniversary of 
the founding of. 67, 109: Board of 
Trade. 90; Common Council, 107; 
Daily Advertiser. 26. 67; Library 
Association, 68. 84, 85; Library As- 
sociation building. 94, 98, 99, 100; 
Library Association, circulars con- 
cerning stock in. 12 
Morning Register, early volumes of 

given to Society, 137 
National Banking Company, rooms 

of Society in building of. 86 
Natural History Society, 85 
Public High School. 89 

Newell. ex-Governor William A.. 138 
James H., 50 
William, 145 

Newspaper Extracts relating to New 
Jersey, 1776. 122 

Newspapers of New Jersey prior to 1800. 
117 

Newton, Sir William, 138 

Nichols. SavresO., 149 

Niles. Nathaniel, 11. 12. 14. 117, 119, 123, 
127, 12S. 130. 150. 151. 152 

Niles's Weekly Register, set of, 137 

Nixon. John T., 50. 51, 77, 127, 148 

Norris, John. 146 

Norton, James F.. 146 

Notes concerning Elizabethtown, etc., 23 



GENERAL INDEX. 



221 



O'Callagkan, E. B.. M. D., 24, 28 
Officers. 1845-1895, 13 
Ogden, Col. Aaron, 73. 75 

Elias Bailey Dayton. 73. 77 

Francis Barber. 147 

Mrs. Francis Barber, 138; portrait of, 
82 

Mary. 75 

Robert 75 
Old Burying Ground, Newark. N. J.. 66 

photographs of ancient tombstones 
in, 137 
Old Tennent Church, 69 
Olden. Charles S.. 48, 76. 77 
O'Neill, Patrick H.. 145 
Orton, James D.. 14 

Pangborn, Z. K.. 148 

Paris, Ferdinand John, papers of. 81. 

135 
Park Presbyterian Church. Newark, 97; 

congregation. 96. 141, 142. 143 
Parker, Cortlandt. 31. 59 
Elisha, 33, 35 

James, 13. 18. 19, 23, 33. 35. 40. 72 
Joel. 76. 77. 119. 123. 127 
R. Wayne, 149 
Parrish. Dr. Joseph. 57 
Paterson. 14. 73; Records of the Town- 
ship of. 109 
Paterson, Rev. Andrew Bell. D. D.. 96 
William, in tbe Federal Convention. 

173 
William F.. 146 
Patterson. John H., 144 
Pearson. Charles L., 31 
Peck, Cyrus, 100 
Penington. John 25 
Penn. William, 28. 135 
Pennington. Ephraim. 42 
James W., 62 
Samuel. 42. 148 

Samuel H.. M. D.. LL. D.. 14: an orig- 
inal member of the Society. 1845, 
31; acting Librarian. 184S-1852. 66; 
Vice President, 1871-1894. 43; on 
Centennial Committee of 1889, 127: 
biographical sketch of 42-43 
Gov. 'William. 42, 48. 51. 75. 77: his 

election as Speaker. 174 
Gov. William S.. 12. 62 
Pennington Seminary. 148 
Penn's Neck. Swedish mission at. 21 
Pennsylvania. History of, 18. 19: ''An- 
nuls." 21: Archives. 21: Magazine 
of History and Biography. 21 
Pepys. Samuel. 87 
Perrine, Lewis. 144 
Perry. Nehemiah, 97 
Perth Amboy. 65; annals of. 23 
Pfeiffer. George. 115 
Philadelphia. 21 
'•Phenix." first steamboat to navigate 

the ocean. 10 
Pinneo. James B.. 97 
Pitney Henry C. 131. Ill 
Pitt. Jesse B.. 141. 142 
Plaintield. 69 

Plant.igenet, Beauchamp. tract by, -I 
Ployden. Sir Edmund. 25 
Plume, Joseph W.. 147 
Plympton. Hannah, 137 
Pompton Plains, History of. Ill 
Portraits in the Society's Libra- 
ry:— Isaac Andrus, Thomas Bar- 



ron. Aaron Burr. Henry Clay. Ed- 
ward Crowell, Rev. Hooper Cum- 
ming, Matthias W. Day, Robert 
Drummond and wife i.Iannetje 
Vreeland), Theodore Frelingbuy- 
sen, Daniel Haines, ('apt. Levi 
Holden and wife (Hannah Plymp- 
ton), Joseph Coerten Hornblower, 
Ccl. Edmund L. Joy, ( laptain James 
Lawrence. Rev. John McDowell, 
Rev. Nicholas Murray. Mrs. Fran- 
cis Barber Ogden. Rev. Irenaeus 
Prime, Col. Peter Schuyler, Rich- 
ard Stockton, William' A. White- 
head, 137-138 
Potter. Henry A., 149 
Potts, Edward B., 146 

Stacy Gardiner. 30, 31, 46. 83, 96. 112, 
114 
Presidents of New Jersey Historical So- 
ciety, list of. 13 
Price. Richard A.. 146 

Rodman M.. 117 
Prime. Rev. Dr. Samuel Irenaeus. 65. 

70; portrait of, 82, 138 
Princeton. 8i, 85, 127 

College. 196. 258, 261; President of. 

333 
Theological Seminary. 69, 70. 148 
University, 5, 6, 13; offers the Society 
a permanent home. 100 
Proceedings of the Society, account of 

publication of. 101, 102 
Proprietors' surrender to the Crown in 

1-02. original instructions of, 135 
Proud. Robert. History of Pennsylvania. 

19 
Provincial Congress, papers of, 135 

Courts of New Jersey, 106 
Prudential Insurance Company, meet- 
ings held in building of, 86 
Public Records in counties, proposed ex- 
amination of. 1 15 
Commission. 115 
in Essex County, notice of, 117 
Office of England. 119 
Publication Fund. 133 
Publications. Committee on. 11: reports 
of. 12; resolutions offered l>\. l(il 
of the Society. 78. 101 
Pumpelly. Josiah Collins. 117.151. 152 

Queen Adelaide, 138 

Raccoon. Swedish mission in. 21 

Race. Henry. M. D.. 148 

Railroad charter, first, granted by X. .1. 
Legislature, 10 

Randall. J. M.. 6 

Randolph, Bennington P., it; 
Theodore P.. 76, 77. i is 

Rankin. Abigail. 143 
William. 97. 1 13 

Raritan King. 25 

Red Bank. 09 

Reed. Alfred. 141 

Revolutionary period, documents rela- 
ting to New Jersey in. 21 
Series of X. J. Archives, 122 

Reynolds. William M.. 1 >. P.. 21 

Ricord. Elizabeth Stryker, 68 

Frederick W.. 11. 12. 13. 11. (is. 91. 92. 
121. 123. 121. 12;. 1 is: elected Libra- 
rian and Treasurer of the Society, 
68: sketch of. 68 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Ricord. Dr. Jean Baptiste. 68 
Righter. William A.. 151, 152 
Riker, Adrian. 14(3 

Chandler W., 100 
Roberts. Jonathan W., 14, 98. 147 

L. H..148 
Robeson. George M.. 131 

William P.. 31, T5. 96 
Rock wood. Charles G.. 14. 149 
Rodgers, Rev. John, 37 

Rev. Ravaud K., D. D., 13, 36. 37 
Roe. Joseph B.. 145 
Ross James, 14, 63 
Rudman. Rev. Andreas. 21 
Rue. John D., 145 

N. S., 147 
Rusling Gen. James F.. 149 
Rutgers College. 13, 68, ?•-'. 71. 137. 148. 174 
Rutherfurd John, 13, 35, 40, 65,97; me- 
moir of. 65 

Lewis M.. 97 

Livingston, 36 

Louisa. 36 

Marv- 36 

Miss- , 88 

Robert Walter, 36 

Walter, 35, 87, 83 
Rutherfurd Manuscripts, 81, 135. 136. 156 
Ryerson. Martin J., ill 

Salem, 75, 102: first settlement of. 24 

Salem county historical society. 125 
Tenth. 135 

Salter. Edwin. Manuscripts of. 136 

San Domingo. Cathedral of, burial of 
Columbus in. 65 

Sandford. M ijor William, 42 

Sandford. Mary, 42 

'■Savannah." first steamboat to cross 
Atlantic ocean. 10 

Sawyer. Henry M. , 1 47 

Sayres, Oaleb, 139. 140 

Scandinavian settlemsnts in New Jer- 
sey. 21. 155 

Scarborough. Rt. Rev. Bishop. 147 

Schenck, Rev. Garret C. D. D., 25: 
History of Pompton Plains by, 111 

Schmelz. Joseph. 146 

Schroth, John. 146 

Schuyler, Col Peter, portrait of. 82, 138 

Scott. Austin. Ph. D., LL. D.. President 
of Rutgers College. 14. 121. 148; "A 
Highway of the Nation." an ad- 
dress bv. 169 

Scudder Ariel T.. 146 

Edward Wallace. LL. D.. 141 

Sedgwick, Theodore, memoir of William 
Livingston by. 20 

Semi-Oentennial Anniversary of the. 
New Jersey Historical Society. 
program of, 11-14; fac-simile of in- 
vitation to. 4 

"Sentinel of Freedom," 1796-1852, file of, 
135 

Sewell. William J.. 147 

Sheldon. Rev. Dr. George, 76 

Shipman, Caleb H. 77 

Sims, Clifford Stanley, 129. 131, 152; bio- 
graphical sketch of. 167 

SJoane. Prof. William M.. 6 

Slavery, conflict over, 200 

Smith, A. D., 143 
AdamC, 146 
Rev. Caleb. 37 
Peter D., 145 



Smith. Samuel. 21; MSS. of, 19.81.135; 
History of New Jersey and Penn- 
sylvania, by. 18 
William Peai-tree. letter-book of. 135 

Society's Library and Publications, 78, 
101 

Somerset county, historical society of. 
125 

Special Committees, list of. 14 

Speedwell Works. 10 

Spencer. Jonathan J.. 31 

Spicer. Jacob, diary of, 135 

Spinney. Geo. F.. 149 

Sprague, William B.. D. D., 70 

Squier. Nathan. 139 140 

Starkey. Rt. Rev. Thomas A.. 147 

Statistics. Committee on, important leg- 
islation secured by. 126 

Steam Engine, introduction and inven- 
tion of. 10; first in America. 32 

Steamship, introduction and invention 
of. 10 

Steele. Dudley S.. 147 

Stephens. Thomas H. 97 

Sterling. Edward 1$.. 152 

Stevens. Henry, 114, 115. 117. 119 

John, first steamboat constructed 

by. 10 
Robert L.. first ocean steamship con- 
structed by, 10 

Stewart, John H.. ill 

Stirling. Lord. Life of. 47; papers of, 81, 
105. 135 

Stockholm. 20. 21 

Stockton. John P.. 141 

Richard. 34; portrait of. 81. 138 

Stokes, Edward H.. 14 

Strange. Wm , 147 

Strijcker. Jan. 62 

Strong, Rev. Jamis. 149 

Stryker, Elizabeth. 68 
Rev. Peter, lis 
Thomas J.. 11. 62. 63. S3 
Adjutant General William S.. 11. 12. 
14. 03. 127. 144: on Committee on 
Colonial and Revolutionary Docu- 
ments. 123: President New Jersey 
Historical Society. 43: editor N. 
J. Archives. 124; member of Pub- 
lic Records Commission, 115 

Stuart. Gilbert. 82 

Studdiford. Rev. Samuel M., D. D.. 39 

Stuyvesant. Helen. 97 

Sudbury. Miss.. 137 

Swedish settlements in New Jersey. 20, 
21 

Swords Col. Robert Smith, 14. 36, 64. 65. 
89. 90. 91. 92 

Tardier. 130 

Taylor. Rev. Benjamin C, 64 

Teiegraph. introduction and invention 

of. 10 
Ten Brook, Joseph. 139 
Tennent, Rev. William. Life of, by 

Thomas Henderson. M D., 135 
Thomas. Isaiah — History of Printing, 19 
Thompson, Lewis A., 145 

R. B., 113 
Tichenor. Francis M., 14, 99. 100 
Tiffany & Company. Centennial Medal 

made by, 13J, 150 
Todd, Andrew. 39 
Toffev. John J.. 146 
Traver, C. L., 151, 152 



GENERAL INDEX. 



223 



Treasurer, report of, 12 
Treasurers, list of, I 1 
Trenehard, Thomas W.. 1 in 
Trenton, 3, 10. 14, 65, 66, 6T, 69, 72, 73. 82, 
92, its. 12H 

Presbyterian church. 72 

State Gazette. 72 
Trier. Reuben. 146 
Trimmer, Lawrence H., 146 
Tattle. Rev. Joseph F.. D. D., 137: Man- 
uscripts. 136 

Joseph N.. 76, 97 

William. 68 

Ulrich. John. 146 

Unconstitutional legislation, the New 
Jersey Supreme Court lays down 
the principle of, in 1780. 172 

Union College, 73 

Upham. Rev. F. S., 149 

Utter. Samuel. 142 

Vail. Alfred. Manuscripts of, 136 

Dr. M. H. C. 137 
Vail Works. Speedwell, machinery for 

ocean steamship, made at. 10 
Valentine. David T., 28 
Van Arsdale, Elias, 140 

Mrs. Jacob. 137 
Van Fleet. Abraham V., 144 
Van Neste Rev. George J., ill 
Van Syckel. Hennet. 144 
Vance. A. A.. 148 
Vermilyea, Jacob D.. 97 
Voorhees. Governor Foster M., 115, 146 
Vosseller, Elias. 151, 152 
Vreeland, Jannetje. portrait of, 137 
Vroom. Cornells Pieterse. 45 

Ex-Governor Peter D., 3D. 45. 77 

Garret D. W., 11. 12, 14, int. 123, 124, 
126. 128. 129. 130. 131. 144. 151, 152 

HendricU Corsen, 15 

Wall. Gen. Garret Dorset. 84, 85 

Wallace. William C. 42 

War of 1812. 10 

Ward, Arthur. M. D.. 14 

Marcus L.. 76. 77, 97, 123 
Thomas. 14.: 
Washington, Gen. George. 126. 127: med- 
al in commemoration of inaugu 
ration of. 3. 13: Houdon's bast of. 

130 

Mrs., at Rocky Hill, si 
Washington Association. Morristown. 

76. US 
Watkins. J. Elfreth, 10 
Watt. James. 10 
Webster. Daniel, 174 
Weeks. John R.. 95. 97 

William R.. 11. 13. 14, 99. 151. 152 
Welch. William W.. 147 
Werts. Governor George T.. 145 
West. James, 147 



West Jersey, settlement of, in 

Whitehead, John. 11 

William. 51 

William Adee, 24,37, 56. 113. ill. 120, 
123: beginning of his historical 
work. 22. 23. 26: furnishes material 
for Barber and Howe's "Historical 
Collections of New Jersey," 26: 
his history of "East Jersey under 
the Proprietary Governments," 53. 
105; an original member of the 
Historical Society. 31 : its Mrs! ( 'or- 
responding Secretary. 1845 iss5: 
13. 51 : reports on New .Jersey Rec- 
ords in England. 29. 30; on commit- 
tee to memorialize the Legisla- 
ture, 1845. 1850. 112. Ill: on commit- 
tee to secure documents from Bng 
land. 113. 123: editor 'Analytical 
index," 115. 116: editor New Jersey 
Archives, 113. 119. 121. 123: his 
••Contributions to Last Jersey His- 
tory." 54; editor Morris Papers. 
107: Historical Address at bi cen- 
tennial anniversary of Newark, 109: 

opposed to local historical socie- 
ties. 125: biographical sketch of. 
51-55: portrait of , 82, 138: bequeaths 
his manuscripts to the Society, si. 
136 

Whitney, Rev. Geo. H., 149 

Whittaker. Jonathan S.. ill 

Wickes, Dr. Stephen. 55. 127. 148: the 
second Corresponding Secretary of 
the Society. 1885-1890. 13. 56; fa- 
vors local historical societies, 125: 
biographical sketch of. 55-57 

Wiedenmayer. Georye W., 147 

Wigger, Rt. Rev. Bishop. 147 

Wilder. Enos. I is 

Wilkinson. E. A.. I 17 

Williams. Marcus, 137 

Williamson, B.. Jr., 149 
Mrs. B.. Jr.. 151.152 

Wilmington. Del.. 21 

Wilson. Peter, biography of, 71 

Prof. Woodrow. address on "The 
Course of American History." 13. 
181-2i 16 

Wiman. Erastus, 128, 150 

Wood. John ('.. 14? 
William Nelson. 96 

Woodbrid^e. 66; printing press at, 19: 
town records, 106 

W Iward, Charles T.. 117 

Wren. Sir Christopher, 100 

Wuris. George, 1 is 

Wyckoff, Martin, 145 

Yard, Major James S., 109 

Young, Adolphus Pennington, 13. in 

< !aptain Aaron, 62 

John M.. 119 














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